Billy Talent - Rusted From The Rain [Single]

Atlantic

July 1, 2009, 05:01 PM

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Hardcore, pop-punkers Billy Talent have been kicking around for a few years now and have appeared to grow more and more polished as they have matured, which is now 3 albums deep. Some may see this as a resolute negative, given punks underlying DIY ethics and attitudes and for others it means a more immediate and satisfying experience, I myself see the merits in both sides of the argument.

Rusted From The Rain is the second single to be taken from the band's third self titled album (seems Billy Talent fancy themselves as the new Led Zeppelin) and adequately sums up exactly what the band represent.

The fact that the track and album was produced by Brendan O'Brien (of Springsteen and Pearl Jam fame) should speak volumes of the song's (and subsequent albums) radio friendly sheen but you wouldn't need to know who produced this track to understand it was written for the airwaves.

The song opens with a subtle, circular guitar motif with front man Benjamin Kowalewicz coming across all Billie Joe Armstrong with a powerful, nasal delivery and angst ridden lyrics concerning the breakdown of a young marriage.

The verse has a moody atmosphere and sparse beat that recalls Soundgarden at their best but it all falls apart at the chorus. The build up in the verse led me to believe I was in for a truly epic chorus and when it finally arrived I was left severely underwhelmed. The chest beating hooks that defined earlier singles such as 'Try Honesty' and 'Red Flag' are almost completely absent and the crystal clean production has sewn off all of the bands more endearing, raw tendencies. They seem to have traded melodic invention for a safety net and it's an ill-fitting one at best.

Rusted From The Rain is a powerful, driven song which is obviously aiming for the market which Green Day have long since monopolised but it's polish hides it's heart.

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