Style
The BBC has described Bell X1's music as "remarkably warm—as if imported from the Caribbean via Dublin City". Their style is said to be similar to that of Talking Heads, a fact noted by Noonan on the press release which accompanied their fourth album—"I know, I know it's dangerously Talking Heads". Noonan admitted in 2003 that he had been influenced by the music of Talking Heads and The Flaming Lips. The New York Times has compared Bell X1 to both Coldplay and Radiohead, saying, "Paul Noonan's writing will make you swoon", while the Irish Independent's Ed Power describes them as "Ireland's pre-eminent orchestral rockers" though "none of the band fit the stereotype of the debauched rocker". John Meagher name-checked Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Talking Heads and early U2 after witnessing a performance in the RDS in 2006.
The Sunday Tribune's Neil Dunphy has compared their sound to krautrock, New Wave and David Holmes and in 2004 he suggested they "could have been the Republic's Snow Patrol if they hadn't been beaten to the punch", a reference to that band's rise up the British charts. The Irish Independent's Eamon Sweeney described one show where "two songs in and we're already enjoying pleasing echoes of Radiohead and Animal Collective". After viewing one of their 2009 Vicar Street shows Laurence Mackin of The Irish Times said "much of tonight’s music would be perfect for emotional teenage television". The UK has tended to compare Bell X1 to Coldplay and Keane. Irish Independent journalist Ed Power once said Swedish band Weeping Willows were like "a Nordic Bell X1".
Like Coldplay and The Rolling Stones they are environmentally aware and involved in the process of carbon offsetting and have ordered the planting of trees when they tour. The band and individual band members have been involved in several charitable endeavours, including the recording of The Cake Sale and Sparks n' Mind compilation albums. They are known for assisting with the setting up of their own equipment before performing on stage.
Read more about this topic: Bell X1 (band)
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