C2 and the Brothers Reed

Weigh Station Tour: Exit A

   Much like a piece of iron worked and reworked, C2 and the Brothers Reed return tempered and with fewer impurities for Weigh Station Tour: Exit A.

   The six-track EP dating from January 2015 shows that a band with a variety of influences can and should hone their product down to a finer edge. More focused and coherent than 2013's Hot Mess, Exit A goes down smooth. Relying on strong hooks and (thankfully) more keyboard, the first half of the Weigh Station set should please both casual listeners and fans of the group.

   C2BR is a group that, without a doubt, grew up listening to standard classic rock radio offerings. It seems as though they've finally allowed those years of FM training loose with songs that are familiar and fresh. Look no further than 'Sicko', which at once seems like a descendant of Steely Dan; at that same moment its paint drips with more modern swirls—heavy guitar break downs all built over a rhythmic backdrop and a very welcome organ setting on the keyboard.

   'Different Feel' is anything but, as it keeps the flux capacitor set to 1975. An electric wail evokes images of a stadium crowd while finely-tuned, atmospheric keys pull the mind to the stoic end of a Dirty Harry movie. This is number you close with at the end of a strong live show: leave the audience's collective face melted to the floor while leaving an unanswerable question tucked neatly in their subconscious.

   If these tracks feel a little more mainstream when compared to Hot Mess, that's because they are. More pure instrumental work on the power tracks makes for an easier transition to the down-tempo numbers. As they've done with previous work, C2BR is sure to point out that down-tempo can still be up-beat. 'Stereo' tosses out the ivories in favor of an ear-filling echo for a chorus and a twangy lead and bass that cut through to keep the energy high.

   This EP indicates growth and refinement over time for C2 and the Bros. Reed. Weigh Station Tour: Exit A is evidence of that development. Hopefully they won't be in a hurry to release a followup simply for the sake of doing so, because strict schedules rarely produce masterworks. 8/10

C2 and the Brothers Reed: Hot Mess

C2 and the Brothers Reed

Hot Mess

 To take control, everybody knows we'll have to fire some guns. At least that's the attitude of C2 and the Brothers Reed in their debut EP Hot Mess.

 The group walks the gamut from anthem rock riffs to acoustic sit-downs, but never lingers too long on the slower side of things. Those with a thirst that can only be slacked by a heavy handed rhythm and wailing lead get their release within two minutes on the opening track. From there the ride cools off, only to sizzle to completion—picture these guys walking out of the studio with pieces of the mold they've broken crunching underfoot.

 Although we're only graced with nine songs in this release, none of them are throwaways. This reviewer tends to lean toward the rattle and buzz of songs like 'Dead' or the intro track, but C2BR breaks out by differentiating between slow and soft. The tracks 'Secrets' and 'Swear on You', which certainly carry the smoothest edge, provide necessary coolant but avoid the naptime trap that catches many such offerings. Rather than acting as a generic Ambien, 'Secrets' flips the polarity switch, keeping the tempo lively but backing off from the distortion pedal a bit.

 Simply put, it's hard to overlook the variety that this group brings to the ear. Some might point to their latest offering as more refined, and perhaps it is, but those same people should listen to 'Swear on You' and admit that this quintet boasted an impressive range even back in 2013. Cam Clark's vocals cycle from just a shade above gravely bar rocker up to soaring front man heights that fill the mind's ear with half a dozen snippets from hits past.

 This record certainly pleasing to listen to and serves as a great way to better know a band that is certainly on the way up. If you're out to find a new source for rebellious rock that is nuanced enough to crank at your favorite record store, then look no further. Hot Mess 7/10