All The Rage [EP]
Cary Brothers
December 14, 2004
Procastination
Cary Brothers
December 14, 2004
Procastination
When the name Cary Brothers comes up, many people will think of a band. While that leap may sound a logical one, you would be sorely mistaken. Cary Brothers is a solo artist; an enigmatic young singer-songwriter. His first official release is called “All The Rage” which is pretty much what he has become in the LA singer-songwriter scene lately. With good reason.
Right from the start “All The Rage” sounds promising. A little raw and edgy, Brothers brings an ode to love in Blue Eyes which wouldn’t be amiss on high school dances across the country. Some singers have the ability to sound like everything they sing comes straight out of their hearts. Brothers is one of those artists. His vocals emphasize the link between music and emotion that can make a good song even better.
On Something Brothers sounds a little calmer while his intriguing and warm vocals kind of wash over the songs like waves on the beach. There is a certain amount of resignation in the song, it slowly builds up to where Brothers belts it out with all his might. Very solid songwriting.
Brothers doesn’t only shine on the sweet love songs. Supposed To Be is an uptempo rocker with plenty of distorted guitars to show his grittier side. Lyrically it’s not the most conveying song on the EP but it is a nice sign of versatility that gives you an insight of how he keeps a certain balance in his repertoire and remains interesting by not doing the same thing over and over again, which is a trap many singer-songwriters seem to fall into.
We now reach the absolute highlight of this little record. Honestly is heartfelt and has a superb vocal interpretation. Brothers starts out a little restrained and then moves into his falsetto while holding on to the warmth and slight fragility in his vocals. At times I can hear a touch of Nick Drake in the way he interprets the lyrics vocally. Life and love can be struggles for anyone and Cary Brothers voices those feelings perfectly: “…so I’ll drive away with all my things, though I have a faint belief in everything…”. It is one of those songs that brings tears (close) to your eyes because it’s so utterly recognizable and earnest in all its fiber.
On the final track, Canada, Brothers’ love for the 80s and 90s shines through. Some reverb and guitar effects, a progressive arrangement combined with a production that brings back the feel of past decades. Brothers’ massive vocals fit this style perfectly and again it shows to his versatility and that it doesn’t really matter what style he tends to convey his message in because he has the chops to make it come across in any of them.
“All The Rage” is a more than promising start to what could end up being a very successful career. Being a DIY-artist until now it is likely he’s going to get noticed by other people and doors will start opening for Cary Brothers. Or at least, that is what should happen because this is one of the most talented people I have heard in the past 10 years.
Right from the start “All The Rage” sounds promising. A little raw and edgy, Brothers brings an ode to love in Blue Eyes which wouldn’t be amiss on high school dances across the country. Some singers have the ability to sound like everything they sing comes straight out of their hearts. Brothers is one of those artists. His vocals emphasize the link between music and emotion that can make a good song even better.
On Something Brothers sounds a little calmer while his intriguing and warm vocals kind of wash over the songs like waves on the beach. There is a certain amount of resignation in the song, it slowly builds up to where Brothers belts it out with all his might. Very solid songwriting.
Brothers doesn’t only shine on the sweet love songs. Supposed To Be is an uptempo rocker with plenty of distorted guitars to show his grittier side. Lyrically it’s not the most conveying song on the EP but it is a nice sign of versatility that gives you an insight of how he keeps a certain balance in his repertoire and remains interesting by not doing the same thing over and over again, which is a trap many singer-songwriters seem to fall into.
We now reach the absolute highlight of this little record. Honestly is heartfelt and has a superb vocal interpretation. Brothers starts out a little restrained and then moves into his falsetto while holding on to the warmth and slight fragility in his vocals. At times I can hear a touch of Nick Drake in the way he interprets the lyrics vocally. Life and love can be struggles for anyone and Cary Brothers voices those feelings perfectly: “…so I’ll drive away with all my things, though I have a faint belief in everything…”. It is one of those songs that brings tears (close) to your eyes because it’s so utterly recognizable and earnest in all its fiber.
On the final track, Canada, Brothers’ love for the 80s and 90s shines through. Some reverb and guitar effects, a progressive arrangement combined with a production that brings back the feel of past decades. Brothers’ massive vocals fit this style perfectly and again it shows to his versatility and that it doesn’t really matter what style he tends to convey his message in because he has the chops to make it come across in any of them.
“All The Rage” is a more than promising start to what could end up being a very successful career. Being a DIY-artist until now it is likely he’s going to get noticed by other people and doors will start opening for Cary Brothers. Or at least, that is what should happen because this is one of the most talented people I have heard in the past 10 years.