JEFF the Brotherhood is another example of a minor trend over the past dozen years or so: the emergence of kick-ass 2-piece bands. Ghostland Observatory, Lightning Bolt, and Death from above 1979 are just a few of the long list of dynamite duos. JEFF the Brotherhood has been one band that has come through and torn its own path. They’re a guitar/drum kit brother-band who know how to rock your face off, but neither of them carry the name Jeff.
Already 6 albums deep, the punk/pop/grunge/rock amalgamation throw out their latest effort with Hypnotic Nights. The album marks the band’s first foray into big production having been produced by fellow 2-piece legend, The Black Keys‘ Dan Auerbach. With Auerbach at the board and brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall heading the charge, this heavy front of “rawk” songs shows off its stripes in short time. Here’s my Song by Song Review of the album.
The album opens with “Country Life,” a sludgy guitar movement backed by loose drum work and lackadaisical lyricism. Keys in the chorus and synths during the verse give the track some unexpected color that sets a nice tone for album’s intro.
“Sixpack” follows and is the album’s first single. More detached lyricism centered in a youthful vein explores common slop-rock themes like partying, young adult socializing, drinking, and not giving a fuck. The song perfectly doubles as the album’s manifesto in its messy, seemingly thrown together, yet the piece still has an ear worm of a melody buried in between the broken chords that smacks you in the face and leaves you wanting to come back for more.
Coming off the summer heat of “Sixpack,” “Mystic Portal II” delivers a softer rock/pop cut that is still cluttered with the duo’s preference for grit around the edges. Major chords and optimistic harmonies roll over fuzzed out guitar and a straightforward 4/4 beat. After a verse and a chorus and a verse and a chorus the track escapes into another world with well placed sitar work that holds the frame of the piece for a satiating 30 seconds before handing the reigns back to guitar which closes the song.Then the punk starts. “Hypnotic Mind” is a dark yet Pop-y song that references melodies and themes often carried by 90′s alternative rock. The song’s bridge adds the first flair of dissonance to the messy but still inoffensive collection of raw songs. The return to the chorus brings the album’s charm into full view by exposing the yin and yang the duo balances between a punk attitude and a pop aesthetic.
“Wood Ox” starts slow and low before bringing in a solid beat and layered acoustic instrumentation. The guitar’s harmonies grow in complexity and touch on minor keys bringing to mind prog rock melodies of years past. Vocals come in and the fuzz kicks off. JTB employ their use of dirt paired with a memorable melody yet again. Catchy strings of notes cover the track riding on top of over-driven chords and a solid straightforward beat.
http://www.ardentstudios.com/musicblog/