Brother Eye

Michael Toland, National Productions Manager
The Bevis Frond – The Leaving of London (Woronzow)
The Blurries – Paper Cuts (self-released)
The Breakers – s/t (Wicked Cool)
Brother Eye – Emotional Fingers (self-released)
The Decemberists – The King is Dead (Capitol)
The Feelies – Here Before (Bar/None)
Leatherbag – Yellow Television (self-released)
Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’ (Columbia)
Gillian Welch – The Harrow & the Harvest (Acony)
Wiretree – Makeup (self-released) -

rtist: Brother Eye
CD: All the Pretty Girls Get the Triangle (Bandaloop Records)

Home: Buckingham, Pennsylvania

Style: Rock/Power Pop

Quote: "Mix of pop psychedelia really has mass appeal etched all over it".


By Heidi Drockelman

First reaction, jump straight to the Uncle Tupelo comparisons, throw in a little garage rock Replacements, add the vocals of Matthew “bitter”-Sweet, and you get the very fresh, dirty sound of Brother Eye. Repeat this reaction easily ten times (one for each listen of this record), and what you have is a timeless, classic rock sound that incorporates elements of roots, heavy and biting guitar licks, and a bit of a throwback to the Cheap Trick era (the tune “I Like Drugs” really gives you something to sing along to. Oh wait, perhaps that incriminating bit of information shouldn’t be included in future reviews. Who cares, I was singing along midway through the first listen).

Produced by Dave Fridmann (who has worked with some of my favorite bands including the amazing Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips), this mix of pop psychedelia really has mass appeal etched all over it. The energy harnessed here alone is enough to power a small town for a year, and this Pennsylvania-based band has pieced together a dizzyingly beautiful album that has a high-gleam, polished finish without tampering with the raw goods tucked away inside.

There’s something melancholic, but joyful in its pursuit, both lyrically and musically that is purely entrancing and accessible to fans of various genres. This is a cross-generational wonder that deserves a much larger stage. And if the mainstream radio world doesn’t come knocking, I suppose Brother Eye will have to remain content with becoming indie rock gods instead.

Fans of Tupelo, Mats, Sugar/Husker Du, Satchel, and ‘70’s power pop will really enjoy this record for its purity of spirit and rock sensibility. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t overly-complicated progressive psychedelic rock, and it isn’t just a bunch of power chords waiting to assault your ears. Brother Eye’s material meets up with you somewhere in the middle, basking in underplayed melodic rock bliss.

Standout tracks: These kept changing over the course of many listens, which is always a good sign. Check out “Mother Was A Sergeant”, “Inger Lorre”, “My School”, “You”, and “Over Now”. -