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
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