Brother & Co. is a Boston-based band led by identical twin brothers Josh and John Pritchard. The band’s sound combines contemporary American folk music, ambient music, art rock, and post-rock. Brother & Co.’s debut full-length album Unknow You is inspired by album-oriented, popular rock music of the 1970s and 80s. Each of the record’s eleven tracks explores a different musical landscape while maintaining a narrative focus on the concepts of memory, identity, heartbreak, and perseverance.
I got a copy of a single, “Retinue” from Unknow You Brother and Co, the other day, and gotta say, it rocks! It rocks enough to make me dig a bit and find some more, like the first single from the record, “Still Love.” Now, I’ve got the whole record downloaded and I’m taking a trip through someone else’s psyche for a bit.
Mellifluous, ambient guitars and strings with smooth drums lay a bed for soft-sung lyrics make for an easy to listen to sound that pulls me in deeper as I get into Unknow You. I’m trying to place a finger on the group they remind me of, but it’s just not coming… the brothers are just unique enough to drive those thoughts away. Oh, and then comes the interlude with trumpets (I do love my trumpets)!
I do wish I weren’t so rushed, today. The deeper I get into this record, the more I like it and want to hear more of it! Oh, see? After “Husband Hill,” a piece with deep lyrics very reminiscent of the masters (you know Pink Floyd), comes “Seasons of the Dark” with it’s funkified jazzy horns again.
Unknow You really stands out in the fact that it is a cohesive experience from the first track to the last. It sounds like the same band all working toward the same end, together – you know, like a record – it’s not a collection of “singles” and that’s refreshing.
Performances are just plain sweet, the recording and mixing are tops, and the songs are great! Oh! Killing Joke! That’s who it is that this reminds me of… but then where does that little taste of CSN come from oh, and Tom Waitts? I digress…
That’s what happens when I try to write my thoughts on first listen – it’s on the second time through, now, and I’m even more intrigued than the first. The rain has stopped, and I’ve got it turned Up; I think I’ll keep it that way for a few more spins.
The quote at the top says, “Unknow You is inspired by album-oriented, popular rock music of the 1970s and 80s. Each of the record’s eleven tracks explores a different musical landscape while maintaining a narrative focus on the concepts of memory, identity, heartbreak, and perseverance.” Guys, you met your goal this time!
Unknow You is utterly unique in today’s music scene and that seems reason enough to recommend it to everyone. Brother & Co. deliver an incomparable experience and simply one of the best albums indie albums to be released so far this year.”
Yah, I think I can get on board with that… heck before I even read that I had stopped to message a few friends about it, so yeah… it’s that good! Keep your eyes and ears peeled, you’ll be hearing more from the Boston twins real soon, I’m sure of it. Oh, the official Jedi rating? reckon I’ll give this one a 9. No 10’s allowed… I love it, guys!
Brother & Co. will tour in support of Unknow You with performances throughout New England, including Boston and New York, through the remainder of 2013.
More information:
www.brotherandcompany.com
www.facebook.com/brotherandcompany
www.twitter.com/Brother_And_Co
