| Product: |
Puzzle - Biffy Clyro |
| Date: |
11/06/07 (673 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: A brilliant album from start to finish, with all songs sounding like potential singles.
Disadvantages: The cleaner production may take away the edge people felt Biffy had before.
Biffy Clyro - Puzzle
Puzzle is the fourth album to come from the Scottish band, Biffy Clyro. Always known for being a band that doesn't stick to the rules, but a band that had a lot of potential for a mainstream market, they now have the chance to become one of the biggest bands in the UK, due to their new major label deal. Unlike the previous three albums, Blackened Sky, The Vertigo Of Bliss and Infinity Land, Puzzle had a lot of money put towards it, and, as a result, it sounds much more cleaner and much more polished than any of the previous efforts.
The money put towards the record not only meant this better sond, but also meant Biffy could do something that they had not really had the chance to do before, and that is experiment. Not so much as in the way the songs are written, but more so with the extra added bits to the songs, such as overdubs and, more notably, the use of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and a full choir. The opening track, Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies, shows these added factors amazingly. As an opener, Living... works extremely well. The jabbings of both orchestra and guitar coming unexpectedly for the first minute build up a great amount of suspense for the listener before Simon Neil starts singing with just his palm muted guitar and a choir behind him. Then...bang. The full song kicks in, and the listener begins to go on a musical journey that will see him/her jumping up and down, waving hands in the air, crying and, come the end, smiling.
It is often said that tragedy helps creativity, and nowhere is this more true than on Puzzle. Eleanor Neil, the mother of lead singer Simon Neil, passed away while the band were on tour for The Vertigo Of Bliss, just before they went to record Infinity Land. The death hit Simon hard, and, for a short while, he went off the rails. Drug use became common ground, and he never truly came to terms with it. Matters were not made easier when court battles had to be had over the record labels 14th Floor, who were signing Biffy, and Beggars Banquet, their previous label. Puzzle is not so much a rock album, but a diary, in the respect that the listener feels they are hearing Simon Neil pour his heart and soul on to this record.
Folding Stars is one song that deals directly with the passing of Eleanor Neil. While you do imagine that this song would go down wonderfully at a festival, it's not until you listen to the lyrics and hear the background that you realise how heartbreaking a song it is. The chorus; "Eleanor, I would do anything for another minute with you, 'cuz it's not getting easier", demonstrates the heartbreak behind the song, and the theme is carried on in to the album closer Machines, a beautiful acoustic song, that opens with the line "I would dig a thousand holes, to lay next to you", but ends with "take the pieces and build them up to the sky", showing hope even through the tragedy. Two of the most emotional songs on the album, but, without a doubt, two of the best songs on the album.
Although Puzzle demonstrates Biffy at their most personal, emotional best, it also doesn't fail to show how they can write songs that can fill audiences and have festival go-ers jumping up and down all day. Saturday Superhouse, Who's Got A Match?, The Conversation Is..., Semi Mental, Whole Child Ago and Get Fucked Stud, are all anthems that could prove to be massive winners in this summer's festival period. The album also presents Biffy at their epic best with the songs Living Is A Problem..., As Dust Dances and the madness that is 9/15th's. Although Puzzle is more widely appealing, 9/15th's will be a sign to the older Biffy fans that they can still do 'weird' songs better than anyone. Opening with an acoustic guitar, Simon Neil starts singing, "We're on a hellslide, help us, help us", before the song becomes a mess of storming guitars, orchestra, choir and drums.
Every song on this album is essential. Be it the songs mentioned beforehand and the songs, Now I'm Everyone, which, for the ending alone, deserves it's place as a highlight, and Love Has A Diameter, a song that should be a single and has Simon Neil singing "I'm watching the radio, but it's the television looking at me". While it can be argued that some of the songs are not as good as past efforts, and that some of the songs are not disjointed like previous efforts, it can be said that what Biffy Clyro have produced is a well rounded, complete album that, track for track, works better than any album to have been released for quite some time. The only problem with this album comes down to the production, done by Andy Wallace (who also produced Nirvana's Nevermind), in the respect that it is so polished that you feel that it won't have the staying power as something that extra bit more raw. Puzzle never really loses it's edge, though, and while there is that mild concern, you do also feel that there is enough going on in the record to keep your attention for quite some time.
Puzzle is, quite simply, brilliant. A record that will have you feeling every emotion you have ever felt, and one that will be in your stereos for many days, weeks and months to come. Public beware, there's a band about to take over your life, and that band is Biffy Clyro.
Summary: Biffy Clyro come back with their fourth album, 'Puzzle', and they do it in a superb way.
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