Between the Buried and Me – The Blue Nowhere
This is the first album by the band I’ve ever heard, so I’m coming in with fresh ears—no heritage or deep loyalty. That may be both a disadvantage and an advantage. I read someone online describe the band as “really progressive”, and then added that some of the tracks here are kind of so un-progressive. It’s like the only place to go after being so progressive is you have to become un-progressive. That phrasing puzzled me—but I think I’m starting to see what they meant.
Musically, the album is a wild ride: death metal growls, salsa and bluegrass detours, Frank Zappa-esque moments, rock & roll, heavy metal, things that are not heavy metal—it is everything. It’s on the label InsideOut Music and runs about 78 minutes long. It’s big. I’m enjoying aspects of it more and more, but I’m still trying to get my head around the whole.
What I Loved
The vinyl pressing is lovely (turquoise/green vinyl) and the CD edition too—so kudos there.
The opening is strong. Some parts of the album immediately seized me.
On the compositional front the album is very clever. One review put it:
“While I do think The Blue Nowhere is their best foray into more traditional progressive metal yet …”
Another noted:
“The Blue Nowhere is stupefying, beautiful, and ecstatic. It is an especially bright light in a discography of exceptional quality.”
I like that sense of challenge, of surprise, of discovery. Since I don’t bring decades of fandom I’m open to whatever this album is doing.
Where I Struggled
The vocals. One of those bands where the vocal delivery shifts from clean singing to growly “cookie-monster” style. I don’t mind growls in principle—I’m a fan of Opeth for years and got on board with that. But in some songs here the tonality and delivery of the harsh vocals just didn’t connect for me as much.
One particular track (on what I believe is side two) features a backing accompaniment that feels quite traditional rock & roll, then the growly vocals show up, and it grated a little. Meanwhile on side four things change and I found myself more on board.
While I admire the ambition, the album feels schizophrenic. Some songs are minimalist, some extremely complex. Some work for me; some I’m still floating through. One review puts it:
“The Blue Nowhere is a muddled, somewhat disappointing record … Many of the songs feel scattershot, and their ordering doesn’t necessarily make a ton of sense.”
For someone hearing this band for the first time, The Blue Nowhere is a voyage rather than an immediate home. There are moments of brilliance, and I’m glad I stuck with it. I’m not ready to call it the album of the year or say I felt it click fully—but I am glad I gave it time.
Ultimately: I will keep revisiting it, because parts of it are opening up and becoming enjoyable. For fans of the band this might land more immediately. For someone like me, it’s slower but interesting.
If you’re a fan of the band or progressive/technical metal in general, tell me: what should I listen to next by BTBAM to help this album make more sense in context?
Which tracks do you think hold up strongest on this album? Did you struggle with the vocal shifts like I did, or were you all in from the first listen?
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
