First of all, let’s get one clear. This isn’t the UK band Brodie. This is the Seattle pop-punk band…
So, with that over with, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. I don’t want to sound like a posing bastard (even though I guess this is proof) but I was doing an interview with the guys in All Wound Up when they suggested I go check out a band they were touring with, Brodie. So, not one to pass up the opportunity of checking out a cool new band, I went to MP3.com and downloaded ‘Demo One’, which is, unsurprisingly, this lots first ever release. And I’m quite impressed with what I heard.
If you don’t like pop-punk, then turn away now because Brodie sound like Rufio and New Found Glory stripped down to the bare bones. Being a bit of a pop-punk fanatic, I can sniff out a shite band in less than ten seconds, and whilst Brodie certainly aren’t groundbreaking stuff, ‘Demo One’ will make you sit up and listen. Because it’s actually quite good.
Take ‘Leave This Town‘ as the first case in point. With literally no production at all, it’s a lesson to all wannabe punkers that you don’t need to go all Drive Thru on us to show off your talents. If the songs are there then you will be fine and the aforementioned track is pretty much rockin’. Perhaps at over 4 minutes it’s a minute too long, but I guess this little faux pas can be forgiven.
‘Perfect Girl’ is a great song. Again, you’ve already heard this a billion, squillion times before, but when it’s done as well as this who really cares? Catchy, anthemic and a great set-closer. If you need a Brodie starting point then this is it. If it was on NFG’s ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ then it would fit in rather nicely. ‘Something To Say’ sounds a bit Green Day-ish, with the bass taking over. Even the vocals come across a little bit like ‘Kerplunk’ era Billie Joe. Still, that’s a great album and this is a good song.
‘Stupid Bastard’ again ventures off into New Found Glory territory with a song that is really catchy. Really catchy. There’s enough melody here in one song to fill a Blink album. But for some reason it goes on for way too long, nearing 5 minutes when a more svelte three would have made it a classic. Guys, you have hits in the making here, cut them short and you’ll have record companies knocking down your door!
‘Sympathy’ again sounds like NFG or Rufio, with a hook big enough to catch a shark, whilst ‘The One’ is a little slower. We aren’t talking ballad territory here, just more mid-paced. And vocalist Adam sounds more like Jordan Pundik here than at any other point. Still, the song is pretty smart and that is the main thing.
The brooding bass intro of ‘Walk Away’ reminds me of early MxPx. Darker than all of the other tracks by a long way without venturing from the sound they’ve pretty much perfected, it just shows that Brodie aren’t neccesarily the happy-go-lucky chaps you thought they might have been. ‘What You Saw In Me’ is as rough as hell, but at two-and-a-half minutes is about perfect in length. It’s not that great a song, although the tempo is fast, furious and fantastic.
It’s difficult not to compare Brodie to the myriad of other pop-punk bands that model themselves on New Found Glory. But this lot, as yet unsigned, have already gained the respect of their peers (as support slots with All Wound Up and MxPx show) and they are certainly worthy of a listen if you like your punk of the pop variety.
Brodie have talent in abundance. If you like pop-punk then you’ll probably like this. Sure it’s a bit generic, the songs are a bit long and you’ve heard it all before, but it’s catchier than the bubonic plague. Go listen!
Paul Savage