To those who this was a first time BSP experience, I feel I must defend the lads...
I saw them perform at the Black cat twice before, once opening for The Libertines, once headlining on their own. Both times were fantastic. The onstage energy was great and their playing was dead-on. I do rather miss the WWI ear uniforms and foliage, it was a nice touch that I hoped would simply become their staple throughout their careers. I heard glowing reviews of earlier shows on this tour, such as those in texas, where the band and crowd were both very into it and something about a wicker stag being paraded around/destroyed.
As for the second album, it's similar, yet different. The raw driving energy release that was a good half of "Decline of..." is replaced by more of a introspective lush sound. I look at British Sea Power as being about a musical journey, the fist album is the excitement of getting friends together and heading out into the wilds to camp and romp and chase down the fauna. "Open Season" is the time during the trip that you spend some time just sitting or walking, imbuing the nature that is around you, and appreciating the flora. "Drape yourself in greenery, become part of the scenery" is the phrase that sets the mood for the album. I think esentially what I'm trying to say is, each album is two sides to a coin, and complement each other, rather than stand opposed.
