THE BRAKES
Tale Of Two Cities
What’s everyone saying about The Brakes?
"The Brakes remind us of how good pop music can be." - PopMatters.com
"A monument to calmly neurotic pop excellence." - Village Voice
"The dark, sweet piano march that opens The Brakes' Tale of Two Cities, a collection of precisely choreographed live recordings, snakes into trumpet blats and other sadistic pleasures...Their navigation of '70s AOR and guitar jamming may be their way of liberating Wilcoland from experimental pretensions, but it's also as hooky and swift as a schooner captained by Matthew Sweet." - Riverfront Times
"Ladies and gentleman, welcome to this year's first summer cookout record."
- Philadelphia Weekly
“Tale of Two Cities is what a rock album should be: a true representation of the talents of the band that made the album.” - Rock&RollReport.com
"...poised to finally take it all the way." - Bag of Songs (blog)
"Tale of Two Cities (Hyena) consists of really crafty rock where it's not just about saying smart things because they can, there's a bit of wit in what they do and it's nice to hear."
- The Runoff Groove (blog)
"The Brakes are one band you can't afford to miss live!" - WXPN (blog)
The Brakes are a Philadelphia-based band of twenty-somethings intent on staking a claim to the rich lineage of American rock and roll music. They’re set to release their debut full-length album, Tale Of Two Cities, this spring on HYENA Records. The 12-track collection was recorded live during a dual city residency in April and May 2007. The band would head up the New Jersey Turnpike every Tuesday to set up shop at The Knitting Factory in New York City, while getting cozy with hometown fans every Thursday at MilkBoy in Philadelphia. Each show was recorded and the best performances from both cities were assembled. On standout versions of songs like "Into The Ground," "Big Money," "Boat Trip," and "Song Of Imponderables," The Brakes distinguish themselves with equal parts songwriting and musicianship.
"I've always loved those live records that set the bar for how tight a band can be. Those albums were always benchmarks for me, like a goal to aspire to. And going into the Philly and New York City residencies, we saw this opportunity to make a record where we could listen through multiple shows and pick the best performances," states guitarist Matt Kass.
Tale Of Two Cities captures The Brakes at an idyllic time in their evolution, transitioning between an intimate neighborhood listening room and a legendary big city rock club. But more importantly, a young and swaggering rock band is found growing into their shoes, clearly electrified by the music they’re creating. The Brakes seamlessly intertwine infectious indie-pop circa Ram-era Paul McCartney, crunchy California rock in the spirit of The James Gang and starry-eyed British psychedelia that harks back to Traffic. The breadth of this vision belies a band whose oldest member is 23 years old.
Zach Djanikian, The Brakes’ lead singer and principle songwriter, has an affinity for sugar sweet melody and wry turn of phrase. It’s a combination that proves consistently compelling over the course of Tale Of Two Cities. On the album’s opening number “Into The Ground,” he spins the following: “So hold me baby, just like you used to, feed my hands and blow the shingles off my roof, then kiss me baby, kiss me with your mouth, bite my lip and drain this blood into the ground.” Djanikian sells what he’s singing. His sarcastic bluster doesn’t hide the fool on “Supermarket”: “I’m only one or two steps behind you, I’m only three or four whiskeys down, I’m only five or six cigarettes smoked, on the seven, eight, nine, ten, walk on home.”
If Zach Djanikian brings the stylized pop, the twin guitars of Matt Kass and Derek Feinberg provide the old school sting. They serve the song first, but if pumped-up guitars are called for, they deliver without hesitation. Tunes like “Big Money,” “State Of The Union” and “Danger Blues” are case in point. Feinberg’s deft slide work bumps up against Kass’ chugging rhythms and tasty fills. Their twin leads tend to coalesce in a full-tilt boogie, conjuring all the glory that rock music, of the vintage variety, once promised in less ironic times.
What’s not apparent on Tale Of Two Cities, yet a staple of The Brakes’ live experience, are the members trading off between instruments. Zach Djanikian switches between acoustic guitar and bass, while also playing saxophone. Matt Kass and Derek Feinberg also fill the bass roll as needed. Keyboardist Adam Flicker, who surely draws inspiration from the great Garth Hudson, alternates between clean piano lines (“Into The Ground), swirling keyboard effects (“Who Am I To Be”) and fat organ parts (“Tale Of Two Cities”). He even plays precise trumpet lines on “Into The Ground.” Josh Sack, The Brakes’ drummer and youngest member, sticks to his kit, but likewise, offers staggering range in his performances. Where big bottom grooves are needed, he’s right in the pocket. On the turn of a dime he can swing out rhythms with jazz finesse.
The Brakes formed in 2002, but their roots run much deeper. Guitarists Matt Kass and Derek Feinberg first started playing guitar together in fourth grade, only months after they'd both begun learning their instruments. All five members, including principle songwriter and vocalist Zach Djanikian, keyboardist/trumpeter Adam Flicker and drummer Josh Sack, attended the same middle school together, performing music with each another in various configurations during their high school years. By 2006, The Brakes had matured into a national touring act. The entire band would spend their 21st birthdays on the road, while going on to play dates with The Hold Steady, Robert Randolph, Widespread Panic and Willie Nelson among others.
"Our history together adds a certain level of interpersonal musical understanding. We anticipate each other musically, better than a band that's three months old, or is auditioning a new bassist," explains Flicker. "We feel the connection. It's tangible. We've played a lot of music together. It's like hanging out onstage every night with your best friends."
“We’ve worked hard for a long time, and I think we’ve gotten to a place where we’ve figured ourselves out enough to make music that’s inherently ours,” concludes Djanikian.
http://www.brakesband.com
http://www.myspace.com/thebrakes
http://www.hyenarecords.com
