Change requires adaptation. It requires time. When you start a new job no one expects you to know exactly what you’re doing immediately – that’d be a bit unfair. Maybe it’s a bit unfair, then, for us to assume that when a band makes some changes that it should be an automatic success. Let’s not judge Bleeding Rainbow too harshly then, okay?

Bleeding Rainbow released its third full-length album, Yeah Right on Kanine Records and with it, made some changes. For one, Bleeding Rainbow has evolved its name from Reading Rainbow (okay, this one isn’t so drastic). More significantly, it also used to have two members and now has four; what used to be a drum and guitar duo is now a full band.

With these slight adjustments, the band somewhat unsuccessfully changed its sound from the dream-pop of earlier songs, names and members. Yeah Right is not a bad album. It just doesn’t happen to be anything particularly interesting or evolutionary for the group. In a tried attempt to adapt to the lo-fi standards of indie rock today, Bleeding Rainbow shed the ethereal tones of prior work and ran wildly into the arms of noise rock. The whole album seems to blend together into one song – a continuous stream of loud guitars and arduous melodies that aren’t necessarily unappealing, just not anything noteworthy.

While Yeah Right has a lot of energy, it’s an unfocused energy lacking ups, downs, builds, fades or drastic changes at all. It’s an energy, rather, that exists on the same plane throughout the album which doesn’t serve to make very many memorable moments. Obviously, the album isn’t actually just one long song and certain tracks do stand out as reminisces of what made us want to hear Bleeding Rainbow’ new work in the first place. “Pink Ruff” is one such song. It’s a fun track and is very nearly catchy — the type of song that I would put on a playlist to clean to (which if you saw the cleanliness of my house you would know is not a task or playlist I take lightly).

The standout moments (sparse as they are) can in part be attributed to the production of the album. Yeah Right is a remarkably well-produced record, which seems somewhat counterintuitive for songs that would be more comfortable in a lo-fi setting. In fact, the name Yeah Right itself speaks very well to its sound. While the album isn’t necessarily an afterthought, it’s a pleasant enough indifference. I still really like Bleeding Rainbow. I still think they’re a good band – unfortunately, good bands sometimes make not so good albums. Better luck next time, guys.

Photo by Lily Chou