HEADLINE: Thebrosmad take vow of poverty, release first EP, in that order.
"We'll never make any f*cking money," vowed vonHummer, bassist and singer for Thebrosmad on the eve of releasing the band's first EP, eponymously titled "Thebrosmad EP."
"I'll say we won't," co-vowed Sir Raleigh Grey, percussionist and co-singer, echoing vonHummer in a hollow way, similar to the way that Horatio echoed Hamlet for an entire play, really.
"Alas," he added, which was particularly Shakespearian.
Then, under a leaden sky, threatening to weep for Portland, the lobster-laden lads took out matching yellow scissors and cut the ribbon, launching their first EP out to sea: a 6-song masterpiece sure to be bought by their friends and uneasy acquaintences out of a sense of guilt or possibly pity.
"Thebrosmad EP" was self-recorded by Thebrosmad at Sir Raleigh's own Hushabye Mountain Studios, named after the very gayest song in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, "Hushabye Mountain."
"No overdubs, can you believe it?" Sir Raleigh said later into his cell phone to an un-named relative who feigned interest in the project, "It sounds like 4 guys, not two!" He said.
Then, in response to a concern raised by the other party on his cell, Sir Raleigh corrected himself, "Well, we did record the vocals separately, but we totally could've done it all at once, it just wouldn't have sounded as good. My point is, it's only two guys but it sounds like 4."
Liner Notes:
Going into this project, we had a couple of guidelines:
1) To record it ourselves, in our rehearsal studio.
2) To make it representative of our actual sound as a band, i.e., no overdubs.
That's what we did.
The recorder was a Zoom MRS 1608-CD 16-track, bought in 2006. We used only 8 tracks per song: 3 for the drums (one track per drumkit piece), 2 for the vocals (one each for vonHummer and Sir Raleigh), and 3 for vonHummer's bass (1 track for the low tones, one track for the mid tones, and one for the high tones.)
We worked through 12 songs recording initial demos for each, went back, tinkered with the arrangements, then began recording each one, instrumentals first, then vocals. (We didn't count that as overdubbing, although technically it is. Sorry, but we had to do it that way. There wouldn't have been any decent separation of sound in that tiny room had we done the vocals while we played.)
We did several mixes trying to get it right: crisp, clean drums over a reliable deep bass murk, with some guitar jangle stuck in along the edges. Sharp vocals overall.
"Don't Underestimate Me" leads the EP. It's a sweet pop gem, a love song possibly underlaid with a broader social plea to knock off the micromanagement already. Best line: "...I'm here to see the delight in your eyes."
"You and You and You" has a swell country stomp beat. A declarative statement of moving on, possibly revenge by living well. Best line: "Take a look at your Titanic's log: I'm not on the crew anymore. Bon voyage!..."
"Each and Every Woman" with its ridiculous swagger and classic rock beat adds to the embarrassment-of-song-wealth factor. An incredible list of famous lovers (Jean Kirkpatrick? Dr. Ruth??) is set to music. Best line: "I did Yoko Ono, and I didn't wanna."
"Act III." is the rollicking response to F. Scott Fitzgerald's awful quote that "there are no second acts in American lives." And that response is, "Screw the script, we'll skip to Act III." This mindless can-do attitude in the face of theatrical hopelessness will surely thrill old and middleaged alike. Best line: "Let's make the best of this awkward blocking, this too-loud talking, this script that's actor-proof, the mask that moans and the mask that goofs."
"Samantha Someone" is a slow love song that isn't actually slow at all, an inter-office valentine to a married woman. Sir Raleigh busts out the sentimental Dylan harmonica and a sparse high-hat. Best line: "Love's not the main course, of course, it's just the dessert."
"The Brothers Mad" closes up the whole affair, a sort of theme song with Rush-like riffs and rapid-fire drum fills. A final note about driving on in the face of futility because...that's the only thing left to do. Probably the surprise of this EP: it's uplifting. Best line: "Aint no damn good seeking perdition, when the main mission is 'Heal thyself, physician,' Just be glad."
So buy the EP already.
We think of you often™.
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