As their ridiculously macho name suggests, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club shot to fame with a hard-edged brand of take no prisoners, feedback-drenched rock. The last year, however, has been a pretty difficult time for the moody San Franciscans - not only were they dropped from their record label, they temporarily lost their drummer through too many druggy arguments. The result is a dramatic change of direction, with the electric guitars ditched for acoustic ones and an album of rootsy songs that sound more like Dylan than Jesus and the Mary Chain. It may not sound too promising, but in fact it's worked brilliantly. Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been's singing has never sounded more passionate and there's a conviction about the performances that's nothing less than gripping. An unlikely comeback, but a very impressive one.
