If there has ever been a band that you would expect to be on No Idea Records that doesn't feature any bands that were ever on the No Idea roster than it would be be Bridge and Tunnel. Honestly, this co-ed four-piece from New York City doesn't even sound like any band on No Idea besides some gruff vocals belted out by Jeff Cunningham. Alright I take that back, there's some parts on East/West that remind me of that last album that Small Brown Bike put out, and although it was on Lookout! Small Brown Bike will always be remembered as a No Idea band.
I'm being really confusing, I know. It's not always the easiest to explain what it takes to be a No Idea band without mentioning beards and cheap beer. There is the No Idea "sound" of a loud emotive band whose hearts are tied to punk rock ethos of DIY and its exciting bursts of chaos. However, on the other end, there's a drunken, up to a pack day throated rebel yell of dirty rock that also make this a band that Var would be all over.
I'm clearing things up for you? Bridge and Tunnel features ex-members/members of Slingshot Dakota, Latterman, Solidarity Pact and some other bands I not familiar with named Regarding I and Con Amore. They play tuneful stop and start rock that owes a lot to to the No Idea sound as it does the Midwest (especially small towns outside of Chicago) in the late 90's. I haven't heard little quirky riffs like this since Braid called it quits and Cap 'N Jazz became an urban legend.
The co-ed vocals sing the anthems of how the political is always personal and other introspective material. The best song is the last one, "As Close as I Can." This song will make it onto a great number of mix-tapes for unsuspecting members of the better sex with it's sweet yet powerful tribute to making it through the day and the love that propels it. It's such an awesome song that I find myself thumbing my "next" button unfairly through the ten other tracks on East/West.
Bridge and Tunnel took me for a loop. I was really expecting something more akin to Latterman or even Fifth Hour Hero when in actuality I got an album of swirling melodies, heart-aching lyrics, and some fist in the air with tears streaming down your cheeks anthems. East/West is a brilliant record that owes as much to the golden era of emo as it does to the swamp-pop thickness of bands like Hot Water Music and Small Brown Bike. Those influences that Bridge and Tunnel are drawing from are definitely the right ones.
