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Garrett J. Brown, Priorities (SELF-RELEASED, CD)
SEAN HOOD
Husbands AKA, Husbands AKA
(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD)
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03.21.12-03.28.12
Burlington’s ska scene isn’t prominent — it lives primarily on local turntables rather than onstage. But ska-punkers Husbands AKA are gaining momentum. On their new, self-titled album, which showcases their hardcore and punk-rock roots, the musicians bring checkered hellfire. “Controlled” opens the record on a serious note: drug addiction. Lead vocalist Dylan Burns sings, “Don’t judge a person by the color of their skin or by the poison that they have just shot in.” The song barely clears two minutes but evokes a lifelong battle.
“Nobody’s Listening” infuses street-punk choruses into the band’s ska-roots modus operandi. Guitarist Sean Fitzpatrick and organist Tyson Valyou create an intense sonic assault, and bassist Chris Valyou is equally instrumental in creating the band’s bouncy dynamic. Collectively, the trio drive this record. But it’s drummer Alex Pond who shifts the album into high gear. Channeling a little Dave Mello from Operation Ivy, Pond slams out aggressively quick changes, accelerating with passion. “Wild Girl” suggests the slapstick style of the Queers, with Burns offering similar skirls while staying grounded on a roots level. “Nice & Easy” harnesses the traditional ska feel of the Two Tone era. With melodies reminiscent of the Specials, this laid-back tune suggests that you “slow down, now pick it up … take it nice and easy.” The band takes its own advice; after a few slower tunes, the album rips. “One More Time” may be the record’s defining song. The chorus is timeless, and the outro perfectly encapsulates the Husbands’ style: It makes you want to fill a dance floor and join in a sing-along chorus. Fitzpatrick alternates quickly between shredding power chords and upbeat strums. Riffing to the melodies, he is the only guitar player needed. Early punk-rock structures shine throughout, and Fitzpatrick seals the deal. The album fittingly closes with “Voices.” As soon as Burns sings, “I’ve lost all control,” the song falls seamlessly in and out of distorted dynamics and intermittent ska sections. There is a lot to like about Husbands AKA’s latest. None of the songs crosses the three-minute mark. Gone are the predictable horn lines typical of third-wave ska bands — melodies succeed here with just one organ. And the record’s production is raw and to the point. Even better, Husbands AKA is available for free download at husbandsaka.bandcamp.com/album/ husbands-aka.
SEVENDAYSVT.COM
Garrett J. Brown’s debut album, Priorities, calls me back to my own earliest musical endeavors. I remember that I felt a lot older than my years back then, and that when I sat down behind my TASCAM four-track recorder, I was going for a very specific sound: something between the adolescent Conor Oberst of the late ’90s and Elliott Smith’s Either/Or.. Admittedly, there isn’t much room for originality between these two sad-bastard inspirations. You won’t find any hints of Oberst or Smith on Brown’s debut, but you will hear a musical product that results from just a handful of inspirations. This is not meant to put the guy down; Brown does his job well. But to be honest, the young local songwriter’s music is so clearly a product of his influences, I don’t have much else to say about him. Here’s what I will say: Brown channels the intensely upbeat, feelgood sound of singer-songwriters such as Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz, while making few attempts to mask his very obvious influences. All the elements of this subgenre are prominent on Priorities: clean acoustic guitars, bongos and shakers, the fast-scat-style vocal breakdowns and infinitely positive lyrical content (“Kick back and take the long road / Relax for a while now, baby”). The music is far from bad, the production is professional, and the musicians all play their instruments well. It sounds as good as a Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz album. Take that how you will.
What Priorities lacks is the honesty of a songwriter acknowledging his unique perspective. I believe it’s the artist’s job to soak up experience — both the awe inspiring and the uncomfortable — and turn it back on the world from a fresh vantage point. That’s hardly an original statement about art, but it’s worth reiterating in this context. Though young, Brown is not a bad musician, and Priorities is a solid homage to his inspirations. I just want to hear a new voice. Garrett J. Brown plays the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge this Sunday, March 25, as part of a benefit for VSA Vermont.
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3/20/12 4:05 PM