Tiger Bones rattles ears

The post-punk sound of the ’80s is alive and well again in the debut EP of Chicago band Tiger Bones. Tiger Bones

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Dedd Foxx

Rocks Like: The Cure, Joy Division, The Smiths

Grade: B

The post-punk sound of the ’80s is alive and well again in the debut EP of Chicago band Tiger Bones.

Unlike many current post-punk bands, Tiger Bones manages to capture the essence of the original movement, sounding very similar to bands such as Joy Division and The Cure while still maintaining a modern feel.

The album’s lyrical material is dark, evoking an image of a rather depressing life over the deep, low melancholic rock of yesteryear, while adding a modern flavor of dreamy pop. The combination creates a lovely, simple sound. The guitar and bass riffs in “Kill Them,” for example, has a sinister sound at times, fitting of the song’s title. Songs like the rather short “Nothing,” meanwhile, are bouncy and fast-paced while still retaining the moody feel of the genre.

One big tripping point is vocalist Jonathan Burden: He sounds like a low-rate Ian Curtis of Joy Division. His intonation is awkward, and his singing inflection is bothersome, distracting from the music with its droning, discomfited quality.

All in all, if you’re a fan of the ’80s post-punk scene and want to hear a modern take on it, this album might fit in with your collection.Their album releaseson March 1, and fans can listen to their first single “Kill Them” out now.