Stir the Blood (Bonus Track Version)

The Bravery’s third studio album continues to mine gold from the veins of darkwave or electro-glam or postpunk disco or whatever they’re calling it now. Singer Sam Endicott may croon like a young Robert Smith (especially on the nouveau goth-pop hit “I Am Your Skin”), but instead of song titles like “The Lovecats,” “Friday I’m In Love,” or “Lovesong,” this album abounds with tunes named “Hatef*ck,” “Slow Poison” and the semi misogynous “She’s So Bendable.” Endicott stated in an interview that there are dark undertones to Stir the Blood because he was dealing with a lot of anger when writing these songs. But the music nicely contrasts the brooding with upbeat rhythms and contagiously uplifting pop hooks that make for a mostly danceable affair. Every part of the pulsing “Slow Poison” contains something undeniably infectious — it’s one of those songs with a beat and melody that are impossible to shy away from. The Bonus Track Version contains three worthy remixes of “Slow Poison.”