I want to believe. I want to believe that Boris’ third album of 2011 isn’t two albums too many. Pitchfork gave “Spoon,” the first track released from New Album (Yes, that’s what the Japanese hard rockers are calling this new album), their best new music tag. But, I’d be hard pressed to believe anyone will bestow such honors on “Flare.” Rolling Stone calls it frenetic. Frenetic, of course, is another way of saying a song has no direction. And direction is exactly what “Flare” lacks, as unnecessarily grandiose guitar melodies drop from nowhere over strains of pop metal,  progressive rock, and electronic rock, all running at pitched tempos.  Really, I want to believe, but after a few spins, “Flare” becomes oddly reminiscent of Guns ‘N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy and its attempts to be the everything bagel of 21st Century rock.  We all know how well that worked out for GNR.  Let’s hope Boris fare better.

MP3: Boris – Flare

Boris’ New Album will be available on Sargent House as a special edition CD/LP as part of Record Store Day’s Black Friday, November 25th.  It will then see wider release on December 6th.