Brothers Past
Philadelphia collective Brothers Past has been drawing accolades from the music press and industry heavyweights with their supposedly anthemic electro-rock style. From the evidence presented with this new album 'This Feeling's Called Goodbye' though it's almost impossible to understand why. Yes it is rock mixed with an electronic sound but where on earth are people finding the anthemic elements? This is disappointing weak-willed indie sounding music. There's little power or conviction and the little promise exhibited in nuggets of original riffs and interesting electro work (like the opening of 'Leave the Light On') never matures into something to get excited about.
Sounding at times like Ambulance Ltd it is a pleasant album and tracks like 'Everything Must Go' and 'State Police' show that they have mastered a mass appeal kind of sound. But where's the promised juggernaut of sound that everyone across the pond has been raving about? Catchy and well written songs are all very well but this album barely stands out from all the other energetic indie rock acts that have come to dominate the music market over here.
In the States this may sound original and fresh. Over here though it's another act of a million who are all making the same kind of music that has NME writers and music fashionistas drooling into their Cornflakes and which is clogging up the radio airwaves day after day. Nothing about this album stands out at all despite it having been hyped as having a giant sound. It's spineless indie that promised much and ultimately delivered nothing.