The Texan natives should be proud of their achievements here.
Formed only three years ago, this trio of individuals from The Lone Star State now reside in New York. Releasing their debut record, it should help them gain further plaudits not just in the USA and UK but, in fact, from all around the world. Of these ten tunes found on the album, the concluding My Sheep Still Sleeps In Your Meadow makes the strongest impression. With riffs a la The Killers and Kings of Leon’s Sex on Fire, it starts slowly but then fades away like an Emo cowboy on Brighton seafront. Tender it is not but it makes up for a lack of sensitive moments by using guitar licks which would sound out of this world in a large venue. Within this short time, this band has already carved themselves their own individual sound; long may it continue. – Russell Hill
QRO Magazine (April 1, 2011)
Ojet Records recently moved to Austin after ten years in Houston, but for their first relocated release they're putting out a Brooklyn band, Bull Thieves.
Luckily, Ojet chose well, as Bull Thieves' self-titled debut is an effective near-post-rock procession that doesn't get lost in the stratosphere.
Near-instrumental (the only words are, "We'll all fade away," repeated) opener "Sons of the Morning Town" introduces Bull Thieves & Bull Thieves well. There's a slow, deliberate pace throughout the record, though the songs do vary in size, from the expansive "The Quiet" to the restrained "Across the Ice". The band does better when bigger, as a restrained procession can feel like it goes on a bit, while an expansive one can feel epic without being overdone. But Bull Thieves are best when they introduce emotion to their sound - "Summer Clothes For Anna Marie" is evocative in a New Wave style, but clearer, yet without being obvious, and stand-out/closer "My Sheep Still Sleeps In Your Meadow" is not only growing but also powerful, and rhythmic.
"My Sheep" points to further improvement from the band (who do originally hail from the Houston/Galveston area), and Bull Thieves could use more of it, as the processions, while effective, can start to all feel like the same song. Still, Ojet might be putting out the new Elysian Fields later this year, but they've already got a release to get notice.
Listen Before You Buy (March 17, 2011)
It’s been a while, but I’m really in the mood for something loud and heavy. Luckily I’ve stumbled across Bull Thieves who are only too happy to provide just the thing I’m looking for.
Formed in Brooklyn in 2009 Bull Thieves are Lance Scott Walker (voice, beats, guitar, bass, synths), Nicholas Phelps (guitar, bass, voice) and Task (synths, mixing, beats). The members are all from Texas and a couple of them are even from the same hometown of Galveston.
With a shared love of big beats, big guitars and fresh electronics, they wanted to include these in their music but more importantly, they wanted to write real songs that could exist besides all of those sounds. They first started playing together in an upstairs apartment in the neighbourhood of Sunset Park and finding that all the stuff they had worked on independently fitted together naturally, they began recording.
With influences as diverse as Big Country, Phil Collins, PiL, Leonard Cohen, Brian Eno, and Killing Joke, they have a sound of grand stadium rock mixed with slowed down beats that gives an edge to the normal shoegaze that you generally come across. It’s the kind of music that you can easily imagine pulsing out of those huge speakers adorning stages but sounds just as fine poring out of your ipod headphones. This is music designed to be played loud!
Their self-titled debut album is out on Ojet Records, a Houston label which was dormant for 10 years before releasing their record from their new home base in Austin. I’ve included a taster for you here in the form of “Slippin On The Dry Spots”. With a Queen inspired drum intro it quickly moves into driving guitars (which I absolutely love) and vocals that reminded me of early Big Country. It’s a beautifully crafted track that definitely fits in with their ethos and the album is well worth a listen.
Space City Rock (February 20, 2011)
Milk Milk Lemonade (February 8, 2011)
After an absence of nearly 10 years, Austin, Texas label Ojet Records decided to emerge from their prolonged hibernation and we are certainly fortunate they did so. In launching, or rather re-introducing, themselves again for 2011, the label has recently made available a solid debut release we've been wrapping our ears around for the better part of a week now. Originally from the Houston/Galveston area of Texas, musicians Lance Scott Walker (vocals, beats, guitar, bass, synths), Nicholas Phelps (guitar, bass, vocals) and Task (synths, mixing, beats) formed Bull Thieves after relocating to Brooklyn, New York in 2008 and have been creating music while performing locally ever since. The debut collection of 10 songs is self-titled and can currently be previewed by visiting the Bull Thieves Bandcamp page. Expect nothing held back where the lowest end of the sound spectrum is concerned. An alternating backdrop of both synthetic and organic beats drive slowly, deep into the chest, as heavy drawn-out guitars sear a direct path forward. Our featured track this evening provides a lighter glimpse into various moods presented within the new album, so please do yourself a favor by exploring further into the lovely haze of guitars and pulsating rhythms involved.
Toronto Snob's Music (January 22, 2011)
Houston Press (January 14, 2011)
Pretty Riot (May 24, 2010)
