Brindley Brothers
Playing with the Light

(Paste)

First Appeared in The Music Box, December 2004, Volume 11, #12

Written by T.J. Simon

The songs by Washington D.C.’s Brindley Brothers fuse music in the style of Old 97’s with vocals that are a dead ringer for Jackson Browne. Playing with the Light is the first collaboration between Luke and Daniel Brindley, and it begins with the irresistible title track, which draws equally from Ryan Adams and Rhett Miller. The disc’s best cut, however, arrives on Roman Candle, which injects a horn section into the action, and when the siblings harmonize, as heard on Harder, Easier, Better, their singing takes on a unique and pleasant air. Elsewhere, Hudson River provides a full-fledged "Browne-a-Mania" experience. However, even though Luke Brindley is a capable songwriter who generally knows how to turn a phrase and structure a basic, rootsy, power-pop song, there are some weak moments scattered among the strong ones. For example, Evergreen takes far too long to get started, and Breakdown is a weepy acoustic ballad that recalls the worst throwaways penned by Adams. Yet, despite some unremarkable material, Playing with the Light shows a lot of promise for a largely self-produced affair. Among the myriad of DIY artists trying to get their names on the map, the Brindley Brothers may have a real shot at leaving a mark. ½

Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2004 The Music Box