Kevin Bronson on April 21st, 2009

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[I’d like to welcome guest contributor and local music maven Steven Wallace, who will do occasional reviews as Buzz Bands tries to cover more releases.]

The Boxer Rebellion, “Union” (self-released) – A surprise hit on iTunes after its January release, the sophomore album by this intercontinental foursome (an American, a Australian and two Englishmen) aims high. On the surface, the quartet sounds a lot like Radiohead (with more shoegazing), U2, the Walkmen and the Verve. Beneath the surface, they sound … a lot like Radiohead, U2, the Walkmen and the Verve. What’s missing is a distinctive sound or quality they can call their own. While inviting comparison, the London-based Boxer Rebellion doesn’t achieve anything near the intensity or originality of their influences, although all the parts – most memorably on the tracks “Evacuate,” “Misplaced” and “The Gospel of Goro Adachi” – seem to be there. Todd Howe’s shimmering guitar work is beautifully executed throughout, and while Piers Hewitt’s polyrhythmic, Bunnymen-esque drumming tries to liven things up, it mostly gets buried under a cloud of samey-ness.

– By Steven Wallace

||| Live: The Boxer Rebellion plays the Troubadour tonight. The band also appears at 11:15 a.m. today on KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic.”