Bedhead was always like the bad stepchild of Trance Syndicate Records. While other bands like Ed Hall, Crust and Paul Newman let the more outrageous elements of Austin's music scene shine through, Dallas' Bedhead took its geographic differences to heart. Bedhead played a much more mellow and subtle, yet still piercing brand of music that was just as shattering as its Austin siblings. As happens with just about every band, the members of Bedhead eventually parted ways and the only thing left to remember the band by is its recorded material. That is, until now.
You can't keep true musicians away from music for too long, and the Kadane brothers are at it again with a new moniker, The New Year. What was originally the sleepy, minimalist guitar of Bedhead has evolved into The New Year, with some very familiar characteristics. The brothers Kadane have continued their legacy with a new band that lets the gentle ambiance of carefully placed guitar notes sway you into a heavily sedated, self-contemplating rock mood. And while the Kadanes even admit that this is basically the fourth Bedhead CD, there are some definite differences between the two bands. "Carne Levare," the most upbeat tune on Newness Ends, lets the overdriven guitars ride, as a somewhat uncharacteristically full-blown sound throttles the band up a notch. Likewise, Steve Albini's raw production adds a more immediate presence to The New Year, hurling guitar, vocals and drums to the forefront on several of the tracks. "The Block that Doesn't Exist" even has a slight, cleaned-up Pavement feel about it, as the vocal melody follows a similar guitar line, at mid-tempo pace. "Reconstruction" weaves an intricate web of guitars, bass and vocal lines that displays the maturity of each of the musicians as well as refined songwriting that has stayed the test of time.
There are still plenty of sleepy, low-key moments here to delicately engage your senses, making this a much more balanced released than early Kadane compositions. Forget any preconceptions you may have of Bedhead and give The New Year a shot, as there's enough difference with this release to make it the most successful and accessible of the lot! If The New Year can make a fan out of me -- and I was completely indifferent to Bedhead -- it'll do marvels for those yearning for another chance at experiencing the Kadane brothers' songs.
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