Brutalists, The: We Are Not Here To Help

Those of you who read my reviews know I love progressive music but my tastes run into much more than just prog. Sometimes I want to listen to something really heavy or something really catchy and a good pop song has the ability to scratch that itch. My point is it doesn’t always have to be prog to turn my crank. Take the new album by Los Angeles rock band The Brutalists titled We Are Not Here To Help.

The band includes Mick Cripps (founding member of L.A. Guns) on keyboards, bass, guitars, backing vocals and melodica and Nigel Mogg (London Choirboys) on lead vocals. Also in the band are Kent Holmes (guitars, keyboards, bass, vocals), Charlie Nice (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and guest musician Luke Bossendorfer who provides additional bass.

No matter where you drop the needle down you will hear a great melody. That’s really the nature of this disc. New wave, pop, straight ahead rock, ska, reggae, really, this is quite a varied platter. “Leave It Out� opens the album with an old school southern style boogie that is as catchy as they come. New wave flavours tint “If I Just Do Nothing�, with a slight nod to early ‘80s Elvis Costello. And the first single “Take It All Away� is a new wave pop gem that you can dance to. The reggae flavoured “Something To Say�, the high intensity punk rock of “Useless Information� and the ska/surf inflected “Price On Your Head� are more notable highlights.

Track Listing:
1. Leave It Out
2. If I Just Do Nothing
3. Who’s Gonna Believe Ya
4. Take It All Away
5. Something To Say
6. Price On Your Head
7. You Got Nothin On Me
8. Useless Information
9. Someone Like You
10. Maybe I’m Wrong
11. It Was Never Meant To Be So Easy (CD bonus track)

Added: January 21st 2020
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 688
Language: english

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