For Obvious Reasons is Blert's first release, originally recorded and self-released as a CD in 2001.

History

The story begins in 1988, with three impressionable teenagers at Boston University. They get their real education attending rock shows in the thriving Boston music scene. They discover exciting local rock bands like the Lemonheads, Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. Some of that energy rubs off, and inspires them to pick up their instruments to make some noise of their own. They start playing punk covers at parties for fun and progress with original material incorporating influences of bands such as the Descendents, Fugazi, and Hüsker Dü. Eventually, they move on to different musical projects, but this defining experience sticks with them, for obvious reasons.
Fast-forward to 1998: the three longtime friends reunite in San Francisco. Upon Chris's arrival, Neal and Ron are already playing as blert with Dan Aronen on guitar. Up to that point, blert had already started developing the basis of their quirky musical style, consisting of unorthodox song structures and dynamic transitions. Neal's south-paw, syncopated drumming style, with Ron's melodic and meandering bass combine to form a cohesive rhythm section. For obvious reasons, Chris is intrigued and accepts the invitation to join blert on guitar. The lineup comes full-circle when Dan decides to bow out, leaving Chris to assume the lead vocal and guitar responsibilities.

The Music

Chris infuses blert with fresh ideas and new direction. Together, they refine blert's dynamic punk/prog/pop style by injecting additional pop textures, tonal variations, and smoother transitions. Each of the old songs is revamped and others are created with this new design in mind. Introspective lyrics and signature vocal harmonies are delivered with a sense of urgency. The resulting music tells a story of evolution through repetition; short-attention-span rock epics evolving for years.

This extreme effort culminates in blert's first full-length CD, For Obvious Reasons. Its lyrics bring to life an unlikely hero on his quest to compile a master list of coping strategies for modern life. Great Unknown exhibits our hero at a critical juncture amidst a swirl of guitar hooks. Tales of love and loss emerge with the catchy pop anthems, Things She Won't Write Down and Electric. His inner struggle continues with tension and release tactics of Benediction. Tackling social issues, Golden Loaf presents intricate melodies of mass consumerism, while Juggernaut plows forth with rhythmic power warning of impending corporate Darwinism. These songs often evoke the dark side of the psyche, but are balanced with hope and the spark of imagination. Through any and all adversity, blert never loses site of a glass that is at least half full.