Album Review: The Broderick LP - Musical Family Tree

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The first time I saw?The Broderick perform live, the band played an opening set at She Does Is Magic's album release party for My Height in Heels. I was taken aback by the polished nature the band's set. They didn't come across as your average college rock band, grinding out three-chord grunge in the garage. The Broderick's lead singer, Max Mullen, displayed a confidence that seemed to contradict his appearance. Mullen doesn't look like your average rock star. Clean cut, diminutive, and reserved are all words that come readily to mind were you to observe him off-stage. However, throw a microphone in front of him and Mullen transforms into a cocksure firecracker.

While writing this review, I was reminded of music industry insider?Bob Lefsetz's post on The Alabama Shakes last year, where he bemoaned the act for its insertion into the spotlight prior to the proper vetting: "Used to be all the development was done off screen. Bands woodshedded in their own little backwaters. And when fully developed, they signed to labels. The labels didn?t build bands, didn?t teach them how to play, they took them from working class status to stardom, in the best of cases." Lefsetz may have come across as a disgruntled codger, but there is certainly some merit to his argument.

The Broderick serves as an example of an Indiana band that has managed to achieve that "working class status" on their own terms, without the assistance or support of a label. Their self-titled LP was produced by Jason Wilber, who has made a career as a journeyman guitarist for artists like John Prine and Todd Snider. Under Wilber's tutelage, The Broderick has cut a record that feels label-ready. Their debut is concise, coherent and devoid of the rugged sloppiness that has become the calling card of indie rock. Much of this is likely due to the fact that Mullen and founding members Quinten Schulze (drums) and John Codespoti (guitar) have been writing together since high school.

This sterile sound can serve as a double-edged sword in the current internet music climate. There is a tendency in the indie blogosphere to dismiss any release that is not on the cutting edge. The "accessible" tag is often viewed as an avoid-at-all-costs descriptor. The Broderick is certainly working within the "indie rock" archetype defined by bands like The Hives, The Kooks and Caesars - just to name a few. Mullen's songwriting is earnest and vivid, and effectively serves as a narrative of early-20s college life: fleeting romance, late night drives, and the occasional booze-fueled debauchery.

For me, The Broderick are at their best when Mullen sounds a touch pissed off, particularly the scorned love of "Wild and Crazy" and retrospective contempt of "Expecting a Curse." The latter is the album's longest and most expansive track. Mullen eases in, before settling on a broken wail that underscores his rage over an event that never gets concretely defined. For the song's final two minutes Mullen takes a back seat, allowing the the band to delve into the depths of darkness for an outro driven by drums and guitars. It's powerful stuff, that's wrought with emotion. ?

If there is a criticism to be found, it's that the LP is lacking in substantial risks. That isn't to say the music is dull - not by a long shot. The Broderick is an energetic release that features a broad breadth of emotion, but over repeated listens I kept wondering what it might sound like when the band falls on its face. Maybe my desire for the misstep is driven by daily exposure to artists who simply aren't yet ready for a full-length release. Home recordings, sloppy production, and misguided or lazy songwriting are all too common. To its credit, The Broderick avoids all of those pitfalls. It's one helluva first effort with the professionalism of a seasoned veteran, but the band might need to miss the mark a few times before it carves out a distinctive voice. That being said, if a band's biggest drawback is that it "sounds too good" they're miles ahead of the curve.

Source: http://www.musicalfamilytree.net/xn/detail/2000984%3ABlogPost%3A205910?xg_source=activity

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