Bon Mots Return for a Second Round

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 26, 2007 7:40PM

The Bon Mots' profile has long been on the rise, including a spot on last year's Lollapalooza bill, and it seems certain to only climb higher with the release of their sophomore effort Forty Days And Forty Nights With The Bon Mots.

Singers/guitarists Mike Coy and Eric Chial again share songwriting duties, alternating spots on the track listing, and again we find ourselves enjoying the way the two men's complementary yet conflicting styles complement each other. Coy tends towards the more straightforward tempos and sunny melodies, while Chial traipses through territory marked by Byrds-ian guitar flourishes and a slightly unbalanced rhythmic delivery that keeps the listener engaged and on their toes. Both men have a severe weak spot for the sugary beauty of pure pop, and both have an uncanny knack for composing songs that make one want to snap their fingers from side-to-side while doing the shimmy-shimmy-shake.

The new disc also benefits from the addition of Neal Ostrovsky's solid drumming that manages to swing while still nailing down the beat. His chops help the band get a little grit in there, giving their songs better traction and a more solid presence. The band's secret weapon, though, just might be keyboardist Chris Frantisak. He hides in the background, but his layers of keys and vocal melodies support everything the band does. We're looking forward to seeing all four men replicating the savoir-faire and fine wit of this album at their CD release party this Friday.

The Bon Mots play September 28 at Hideout. Each attendee will receive a free copy of the new album.

Image courtesy the band.