XPN's Artist to Watch for March 2009, Bell X-1's new CD is #1 on the charts in Ireland this week.

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Product Description

After critical raves, three national tours and multiple late-night TV bookings surrounding their break out album Flock, Irish band Bell X1 is back with the ambitious and cutting Blue Lights on the Runway. Their second album on Yep Roc records, BLOTR belies a synth-based metamorphosis for the group Paste Magazine called 'one of Ireland's greatest bands.' The central creative trio of Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty and Dominic Phillips retained the melody-focused approach of their first album but expanded their sound through the addition of glitchy electronic nuances ('The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella') crunching, prominent guitars ('Breastfed') and glittery art pop ('The Great Defector'). Noonan's gorgeous ballad 'The Light Catches Your Face' anchors the work, exemplifying the emotional gamut fans have come to expect from the versatile rockers. Touring, licensing and the excitement of their now legendary rabid fans are sure to combine for an even greater swell of success for Bell X1 in 2009. Quite literally, Blue Lights on the Runway will make the take-off of a long, rich career.

Track Listing

1. The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella
2. How Your Heart is Wired
3. The Great Defector
4. Blow Ins
5. Amelia
6. A Better Band
7. Breastfed
8. Light Catches Your Face
9. One Stringed Harp
10. Curtains are Twitchin'

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2774 in Music
• Brand: Bell
• Released on: 2009-03-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .13 pounds

Review
There's much more than a ghost in the high-performance machine that is this acclaimed Irish band's new album. Synths and samplers permeate the arrangements, but vibrant melodies and vigorous grooves are key to tracks such as The Great Defector and A Better Band (both evoking vintage Talking Heads) and more softly glowing fare. Blending soul and atmosphere, they frequently reach higher ground. Elysa Gardner --USA Today

Review
Ironically for a band named after the first aircraft to shatter the sound barrier, the lads in Bell X1 have been a little slow transporting the success they ve enjoyed in their native Ireland across the teeming Atlantic to the United States. But while 2008 s Flock landed them a spot on Letterman and song placements on a number of TV shows (most notably a high-profile episode of The OC), their new record Blue Lights On The Runway has the potential to turn X1 into a stateside #1. The digitized percussion opening lead single 'How Your Heart Is Wired' quickly spills into a lush guitar riff that suggests a more adrenalized version of Radiohead s 'Talk Show Host.' Lead singer Paul Noonan is a savagely brilliant, left-field lyricist. You ll find a lump in your throat even when you don t know exactly what he s getting at. Longtime fans suffered a crushing blow when keyboardist/utility man Brian Crosby left the band in fall of 2008, but Bell X1 appears determined to not lose an ounce of momentum. --Paste Magazine

Review
Like their former band-mate Damien Rice, this Irish trio know from beauty. Their fourth album is full of sweet, cushy melodies surrounded by well-arranged electronic textures: 'How Your Heart is Wired' where Paul Noonan whisper-croons over programmed drums and plush sound effects, will be ear candy to Coldplay fans; elsewhere, he spikes his lyrics with cheeky asides and references to Of Mice and Men. Blue Lights is uneven, but the good songs are really good: Over the straight-forward stomp of 'The Great Defector' Noonan sounds like a young David Byrne on the uplifting, carnivalesque chorus. --Rolling Stone

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Customer Reviews

Now introducing America to Bell X1
They have done it. They topped Flock and now they will top the US market. It may take a song on a hit drama show, but America should get ready to meet Bell X1. I downloaded it the morning it came out and have not stopped lisenting to it. I am literally sitting in my cubical at work listening to it and wanting to just jump up and start jamin to songs like The Great Defector, Better Band, and The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella. Then chill to the songs like Light Catches Your Face.
The lyrics as usual are classic and one of a kind.
They have the ability to be the new version of The Talking Heads, without all of David Byrnes wackiness.
Great Job!!!

Maturity brings experimentation
There may be derivative sounds on this album, but part of mature creativity is synthetic in nature. These gentleman build on derivations to make something new, hummable, danceable, and beautiful. You, who gave this music one star and proclaimed the demise of Bell X1, surely did not give this a careful listen. These songs are well-crafted, cleverly arranged, and well-produced, and will hold up to tight scrutiny and critical analysis. Listen. It's all you need to do to appreciate this art.

Complex, Fun, and a Bit Wistful
If the only song you heard on this record was "The Great Defector," you'd be getting the wrong idea about the sound. Sure, that particular song evokes Talking Heads, but the rest of the album has a much more introspective, almost sentimental feel to it. The lyrics are completely fresh and extremely well-written. The songs are both whimsical and highly complex musically. This band is truly excellent and I hope they visit us in Seattle when they tour. Buy this record!! You won't regret it.