Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Bobby Lees
Bellevue

Ipecac (2022) Kevin Fitzpatrick

The Bobby Lees – Bellevue cover artwork
The Bobby Lees – Bellevue — Ipecac, 2022

Every once in a long while a band comes along that’s a true pleasure to discover. A sonic kick in the ass for these weary old bones. The Bobby Lees are just such a band.

The release of the Hollywood Junkyard e.p. earlier this year pricked up a lot of ears and served up a mean prelude to the new album Bellevue. Like a DNA splicing of Stiv Bators and Exene Cervenka, vocalist Sam Quartin growls, groans and grooves her way through Bellevue’s 13 savage numbers with nary a sleeper in the deck.

Those of you that remember the garage-rock resurgence of the late 90s with bands like Murder City Devils and Zen Guerrilla will find this album like a welcome visit from an old friend with songs like "In Low" and "Ma Likes To Drink" kicking those garage doors right off the tracks - summoning (we can only hope) a new rock resurgence to fill the deep, dark, soulless void of modern music.

The Bobby Lees – Bellevue cover artwork
The Bobby Lees – Bellevue — Ipecac, 2022

Related news

The Bobby Lees tour plans

Posted in Tours on January 30, 2023

A save the date from The Bobby Lees & Ipecac

Posted in Records on August 6, 2022

The Bobby Lees join Ipecac

Posted in Labels on March 26, 2022

Recently-posted album reviews

Errth

Errth
Uncle Style Records (2025)

What makes a gruff vocal melodic punk band stand out? That's the question I'm asking myself as I listen to Errth's debut on repeat. I've been playing this record for probably a month straight and I dig it. It checks the heart-on-sleeve style I enjoy but I'm struggling to figure out why, exactly. I think on this, it's the tones … Read more

1186

Histeria
Drunken Sailor (2025)

If you read enough press releases, you start questioning if you even know what genre names mean. Post-punk has been one of the most abused terms of the past 2-3 years and it seems to mean wildly different things to different people. To me, it’s always meant an ear for angular guitars and noise atop more traditional song concepts. 1186 … Read more

Li Jianhong

Shuttle Raven of the Dream
Utech (2025)

Li Jianhong's philosophy surpasses the direct relationship of a musician with their instrument of choice. Instead, Li has advocated for Environment Improvisation, where the urge to create and improvise is established by the artist's surroundings. Looking at Li's website you can find numerous instances that inspired him to settle down and start improvising, drawing energy from the surroundings. The music … Read more