When most of what comes out of the machine these days is mundane, there are anomalies like BONES UK. Consisting of Vocalist/Rhythm Guitarist Rosie Bones and Lead Guitarist Carmen Vandenberg, as a duo, their roots were planted a decade ago, but they significantly received more attention with the release of “Beautiful is Boring” in 2017. Building traction from here, BONES UK slowly crept into the forefront of Hard Rock music within two years, putting out the big single “Pretty Waste” in 2019. Placing emphasis on this track, it broke into mainstream success and even earned these ladies a nomination for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Rock Performance.
A fantastic rise of success; how many are aware there is even more to the BONES UK than meets the eye? Well, there is, because the talents of Rosie Bones and Carmen Vandenberg impressed the late Jeff Beck so much that he actually called on them to co-write what would become his final album, 2016’s Loud Hailer. Something to think about: clearly, their approach to music is a bit different, and because of this, they immediately grab your attention.
To quote Rosie Bones herself, they call their brand of music Future Rock. Interestingly, simplifying it, they take Blues, Classic Rock, and Modern Electronic, meshing them into something they can call their own. Easy enough to understand, the most unique elements come from their lyrics, where they tackle gender stereotypes, plus the glossy and shallow world of mass media that many seem to be sucked into. Tragic when you think about it, BONES UK looks to take the filter off to let everyone know that the imperfections we all possess are what makes us truly special… but not what some magazines cover or, in modern times, what a social media influencers are trying to sell us.
Pretty topical for a point in history where we are led to be convinced that people are not as vain and empty as they once were, who are you going to believe – a branding corporation, or BONES UK? The choice is yours, but if you are looking for some fresh sounding Hard Rock with very edgy lyrical content that does not mince words, BONES UK is a must-listen. That is why it will pique the curiosity of many to hear they will return on September 13, 2024, with their second album, SOFT, through Sumerian Records.
A follow-up to 2019’s exceptional self-titled BONES UK which included all the known singles such as “Beautiful is Boring,” “Pretty Waste,” as well as “Choke,” SOFT looks to build on prior momentum but also exceed it. You see, BONES UK has proven they are not playing with a 1-string banjo because, in 2020, they put out the stripped-down bluesy EP Unplugged, which flipped their songs around in a very different light. That being said, SOFT, in many regards, takes these two different approaches and gives you one enjoyable listen.
Complete with eleven tracks, each of the four singles put out between April and August of 2024 (“Won’t Settle,” “Bikinis,” “Fix,” and “Knee Deep”) are included. Each quite different, “Knee Deep” strikes you hard with the idea that it would be easier to judge everything on the surface than look deeper, “Fix” is driven and danceable, “Bikinis” is darkly moody, and “Won’t Settle” is a guitar-driven killer. With these already out there to consume, the remainder of the record is full of surprises that keep you tuned in right until the end.
Putting out a very focused mix of songs, SOFT is an album that is a cohesive group, but still, somehow, each song stands out as something that could dominate a modern Rock chart on its own. A true compliment, there is interest and diversity at each turn, with some standouts including “Me,” “Dopamine,” the erotic “Teeth,” irresistible “Blood,” and the heart-stopping “What If I Died.” These are just some points of reference; honestly, there is no lull at any time in SOFT. The song topics stir it up – ranging from the real beauties in life, the emptiness in being superficial, to the struggles of romance. However, what really drives them all home is the attention to songwriting and the sincere performances captured in each recording.
Overall, SOFT is a fantastic return from BONES UK that shows they are something special. There is a level of sex appeal, but not in a grotesque manner. There is a sense of maturity, but without taking matters too seriously. Most of all, there is a feeling that Rosie Bones and Carmen Vandenberg truly believe in what they are doing… and that is all you can ask for with music. That is why Cryptic Rock gives SOFT 5 out of 5 stars.
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