Review:: Drifting by Design | BRAEVES

For fans of: Sleepaway, Grizzly Bear, and Local Natives

After experimenting with different sounds and genres for a couple years, Braeves came to a mixture of folk, indie rock, dream pop, and other sounds that make up what became Braeves’ debut EP Drifting by Design. This Mike Watts (The Dear Hunter, As Tall As Lions) produced release glides listeners through the 5 songs, in which singer Ryan Colt Levy’s voice drifts over each track. Closing out the quartet is bassist Derek Tramont, Thomas Killian McPhillips IIV on the drums, and Nick LaFalce on guitar and keys, who together create songs that are as well-crafted lyrically as they are musically.

The songs fit together beautifully, kicking off with “Guest of the Gun,” whose strong structure is echoed in the final track, “While Your Body Sleeps,” in pauses and builds between the verses and chorus. “Talk Like Strangers” is much moodier than “Guest of the Gun,” painting a picture of two people who were once close, falling apart. “We talk like strangers in empty storylines,” Levy sings. The chorus describes an unrest in a relationship, but the song itself sounds much like a goodbye. The mellow sounds continue in “Souls in Transit,” but build back up in “Iron Hands,” which lends the EP’s title in the chorus.

Fans of Local Natives, Grizzly Bear, As Tall As Lions, and The Shins will likely find a song that tickles their fancy in this EP.

Release Date: September 9, 2014
Rating: 5/5
Runtime: ~21 minutes
Check Out: “Talk Like Strangers”

Track listing:
1. Guest of the Gun
2. Talk Like Strangers
3. Souls in Transit
4. Iron Hands
5. While Your Body Sleeps

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Written by Carina Browder

Review: The Wars At Home | Carbon Tigers

For those who like: The National, Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver, Death Cab for Cutie

Carbon Tigers have been busy working hard, dedicating time and improving upon past releases. They are ready to taken on the world. After a slight set back in 2012 with most of the bands equipment getting stolen (an estimated $30,000 worth) and no leads of where it could have gone, the band called to its fans to help them raise money to continue on. After raising a substantial amount of money with help from their fans, Carbon Tigers are back and better than ever. To see a band work so diligently to continue on and not let a troubling event hold them back is a noble feat.

The Wars at Home is five tracks of swirling pop with grittier rock elements entwined to give it a sleek sensual feel. You can hear all the effort put into the new album as you listen to the first track entitled “Everybody Else.” The band has a warm feel that rushes over you as you immerse yourself in the EP that spans just less than twenty minutes. With the velvety and lush vocals of Chris Wienke, you listen to him illustrate the issues of change and growth as the songs play.

The album is a mix up and revival of all the albums that we yearn to hear. Carbon Tigers have a sound that is familiar yet new, which makes them something comfortable and different at the same time. Each track is a new story and feeling waiting to be explored. The lyrics are relatable and not far-fetched, which can make it even more pleasurable to listen to.

Hailing from Chicago, the four piece have taken the help of music veterans such as Charlie Dresser, Mike Watts and Ed Brooks to shape the sound of the new album in a different way than previous endeavors. Overall, the EP has more of chilled out rock vibe, but the last track and my personal favorite “The Harvest” takes on a more aggressive approach with glittering guitars and intense percussion to create a different feel than the rest of the album. All will reach eargasm while listening.  You can tell that Carbon Tigers have a new refreshed method to making albums, and it shows throughout their entire EP.

Release Date: November 19
Rating: 4/5
Run Time: 19:31

Track list:
1. Everybody Else
2. The Wars at Home
3. Ishmael
4. Queen
5. The Harvest

Band Members:
Chris Wienke (singer/keys/guitar)
Nick Cudone (guitar/keys/vox)
Aaron Sweatt (bass/guitar/vox)
Darien Williams (drums/vox)

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Written By: Chelsea Conte