CD Preview: The Bravery: “The Sun and the Moon” (Complete)

Volume 7, Issue 3, March 2008

CD Preview:
The Bravery: "The Sun and the Moon" (Complete)
Island Records

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Kerry Dawson
Staff Writer
Capital City Free Press

Back in 2005, while I was sitting on the couch listening to the radio, I heard a song that grabbed my attention. That beat… that electro-rock style… it was infectious! Who was it? The Bravery! I rushed out to buy their self-titled album, and I’ve been a fan of the band ever since.

Last May, the band released their second album, “The Sun and the Moon.” The album was a departure from the synth-heavy styling which characterized the band’s debut album, but the addictive beats and catchy lyrics were still there. The album even earned accolades as one of iTunes’ top 10 alternative albums of the year.

Although the album received widespread praise and recognition among fans, many people aren’t aware of the album’s original concept. “The Sun and the Moon” was designed to show two different sides of The Bravery. The album was to be a two-disc set: “The Sun’s” focus would be the use of acoustic instruments that would showcase a more fundamental approach to music production than the band’s debut release, while “The Moon” would be reflective of the DIY, synth-heavy style that made the band famous. As I’m sure you’ve realized by now, “The Sun” was the only album released under “The Sun and the Moon” title.

If you feel as though some sort of injustice has been done to us synth-rock fans everywhere, never fear! After the release of “The Sun and the Moon,” The Bravery continued to work towards realizing the original album’s concept. While on tour, the band did most of the recording for “The Moon.” Then, the band headed to their NYC home studios to finish the tracks. The band’s hard work culminated in the 2008 announcement of “The Sun and the Moon Complete.” The March 18th release will contain all of the tracks already released on “The Sun and the Moon,” but it will also contain the second disc so tragically left out of the original release.

If you haven’t bought The Bravery’s latest album yet, don’t!! And, hey, if you find it hard to wait until then, iTunes is showcasing a new track from the album each week until its release so you can be sure to get your synth-rock fix!