Bravery - An Honest Mistake

by Anthony Strutt

published: 25 / 2 / 2005

Label: Polydor
Format: CDS

Unappealing new single from the up-and-coming and much hyped the Bravery

Review

The Bravery have to date just released two singles, and last autumn they played a residency at the Metro in London's Oxford Street that sold out pretty damned quickly. Their self-titled debut album has just been released , and if the Bravery hadn't had to fight off Moby and the Stereophonics it would have easily gone in at number one. Not that any one except record companies give a shit about these things these days. I saw the Bravery live when they played the Oxford Street HMV on the day 'An Honest Mistake', their third single was released, and they had the crowd in their laps, but, then again, the crowd consisted mainly of teenagers. The Bravery are part of the new 80's sound of which the Killers sit at the top of the tree. They hail from New York and sound nothing like the Strokes. Thank God. The frontman, Sam Endicott, comes over like a rockabilly Joe Strummer, while lead guitarist, Michael Zakarin,looks like a good looking Mick Jagger. His face looks like he should wear lipstick, if you ask me. The bass player, Mike H, has attitude, but comes over for someone of my age as looking rather screwed up. He wears eye make up, and comes over like he wants to be in the glam rock pop era age of Adam and the Ants, which the Bravery do remind me of. 'An Honest Mistake' comes in 3 formats, one of which appears on 7" and on red vinyl. During the post gig signing after the HMV show, the band signed all the vinyl singles, on the vinyl itself. 'An Honest Mistake' is one of this year's biggest indie dance floor anthems.It has plenty of grooves in a new wave fashion, and strong Cure like drums and keyboards. Lyrically it is quite camp, as it seems to be about a gay man who has come on to a straight man and found that he has made an honest mistake in doing so. Well, that's what I read into it anyway... The B side, 'Hey Sunshiney Day' has muffled vocals, is quite catchy but instantly forgettable too. On the whole I feel that this band is already selling out, because live their sound is really raw but in session and on record they are just so pop... Shame, still they will be massive...