Customer Reviews

This Feeling's Called Goodbye

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From the opening notes of "Leave the Light On" and the first sub-sonic bass drop, you realize that this is going to be an incredible ride for the next 48 minutes. BP has accomplished what most jam/indie bands can't. They have taken the best parts of their band and expanded on them in the studio. Instead of noodling endlessly with wanky guitar solos, they incorporate tight drum fills, clever lyrics, and groove so solid you can feel the waves under your feet. Recruiting producer Jon Altschiller (Phish, Lenny Kravitz, Dave Matthews Band), BP has taken the art of recording seriously. TFCG has so many musical styles blended into a perfect package of drum n' bass, deep house, electronica, emo, and rock n' roll. On "Year of the Horse" bassist Clay Parnell takes the listener to the warehouse district of San Francisco during deep house's peak, and unloads a groove that Dubtribe Soundsystem or Mark Farina would have a hard time recreating. Guitarist Tom Hamilton reminds us what a sane Thom Yorke would sound like if Pablo Honey had been repeated. Hamilton uses his clean, emotionaly-honest voice to convey his intentions; become your favorite sing-a-long frontman and secret crush. "State Police", probably the most radio friendly, has Tom Petty written all over it, complete with crunchy Rickenbacker guitar and xylophone accents. Drummer Rick Lowenberg never slows down, using standard and electric kits to create beats remiscent of The Postal Service and Squarepusher. They take on the political agenda with "Simple Gift of Man" building into a two-sided guitar solo that ends with a dub break Augustus Pablo would be proud of. Brother's Past has a vision, do not label them a jam band, label them 4 extremely talented musicians who take their craft seriously. They want you to remember them after the house lights have come on and when it hurts to stand from dancing, as the next wave of American music.

I think it's safe to say that Brothers Past exceeded everyone's already high expectations when they released this album. I've had it since February when it was first released (without the support of a label) and I still find myself listening to it ALL THE TIME over 8 months later. That is extremely rare for me as I am one of those people who goes through music like crazy, with 99% of it being forgotten within a month or two. But this is hands down one of my three favorite albums of 2005 (which says a lot, seeing as this has been such a strong year for music in general).

What it really comes down to with This Feeling's Called Goodbye is that it is full of great songs... some of my favorites in the world, in fact. They are filled with heartfelt lyrics about love and loss, alienation and redemption, heartache and hurt. The subject matter is very real and will strike close to the heart of anyone that has a soul. And the songs bubble forth with innovative hooks and melodies that are so damned catchy you will find yourself humming them for days.

Basically, Brothers Past struck it big and created a masterpiece with this record. They are doing something very right and I can't wait to where the next record takes them. But in the meantime... I'm gonna keep on enjoying the hell out of this one.

Most jamband fans will tell you that "jamband" and "quality studio album" are contradicting terms. The four piece from West Chester, PA has set out to dispel that criticism with their new album This Feeling's Called Goodbye. Released at the beginning of 2005, the already remarkable album has found the exposure it deserves after members of the String Cheese Incident heard the tracks, and decided the masterpiece needed a national release.

Music fans rejoice. Anyone who has heard Brothers Past over the past five years can attest to the fact that this band has been getting better (especially in the songwriting and vocal department) at an absurdly exponential rate. And while it would be near impossible for Tom, Tom, Clay, and Rick to replicate what they accomplish on stage in the studio, TFCG is a perfect snapshot of what makes this band one of the hottest up and coming progressive acts.

Combining an uncanny sense of layering, great vocal harmonies, infectious choruses, top shelf instrumentation, and the willingness to take musical risks, Brothers Past has constructed a sound which graces the ears with soothing tones, while simultaneously filling the listener with unavoidable adrenaline to match the intensity of the rock to electronic beats.

Indeed, tracks like "Leave the Light On" and "Simple Gift of Man" will have you concurrently pumping your fist in the air, while your eyes well up in reaction to the life affirming and joyous melodies. Brothers Past is undoubtedly a band which feels its music, because that is the most profound reaction the listener has: feeling. Sometimes melancholic, sometimes joyful, sometimes cynical, and sometimes hopeful, TFCG reminds us what life is all about. This journey is not just about the ups and the good times, it is about the whole experience. Astoundingly, and surprisingly to everyone except those who follow this band very closely, this band has figured out a way to express this idea so eloquently, and with a studio album nonetheless. Congratulations Brothers Past, while your endless touring and promoting is paying off greatly as music fans all across the country come to recognize your brilliance, you have taken your success to a whole new level with the release of this beautiful piece of art. Readers, what are you waiting for? Grab this album as soon as you get a chance for an experience you absolutely cannot find anywhere else. And if you find BP playing at a venue near you, DO NOT miss out on one of the most enthralling live experiences a music fan can have. "On the verge of losing it all, but I'm never going over."