The Blue Van – Man Up

Releasedate: 26-03-2010; Label: Suburban Records
By: Sabine van Gameren

The Blue Van is a formation coming from Denmark. The band currently releases their third album “Man Up”.

Some little filthy blues rock felling fills the room when the record starts. Somehow a little recognizable, is it from their influences of the 60’s and 70’s, or from the fact that their music has been used in several TV series. It ain’t clean, it ain’t that dirty either. Somehow they make me think of black coffee. Bitter, but pure and loads of people would run off to poor some sugar in it. The music does not come with the sugar, meaning there is no point of happiness, hope or joy at all. Just a little lesson in life, a call for your personality to work it and better yourself, a kick of motivation for the ones who are able to adapt that from their sound.
However, at the end of the album it seems this portion was a bit too much. Feel like I know their trick and the giveaway cookie just tastes the same. A missed opportunity to get wild and find that genre-hopper music fan.
“Man up” is good to go and take once in a while. It won’t get stuck in your cd player but it won’t get catch dust either.

Line Up:
Steffen Westmark – Vocals, Guitar
Søren Oakes Christensen – Keyboard, Vocals
Allan Villadsen – Bass
Per Jørgensen – Drums

Tracklist: 01. Be Home Soon 02. Man Up 03. Silly Boy 04. There Goes My Love 05. Lay Me Down And Die 06. The Socialite 07. In Love With Myself 08. Out Of Control 09. True 10. I’m A Man 11. Stop Thinking Myself 12. Trees That Resemble 13. Put My Name In The Sand

Links:
The Blue Van MySpace
The Blue Van Official