Pitch Perfect
  • Pitch Perfect
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Brooklyn Sugar Company - Brooklyn Sugar Company

8/1/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Brooklyn Sugar Company

Brooklyn Sugar Company
self-released; 2013

3.9 out of 5

By Dan Alcantara

Brooklyn Sugar Company are a rock and roll band. Not a rock band, a "rock and roll" band. With a sound that calls back to The Cars, The Eagles and even Elton John when he still had a cool voice. They got their start as a backing band before making the move to the front of the stage and beginning the recording of their self-titled debut in 2012. Their time spent playing together professionally shows in the performances on the album. It feels organic and mature, almost the work of a master but definitely far beyond the work of journeymen. Remarkably, the album was written in the studio. Albums I've heard in the past that were written that way usually tended to be somewhat simplistic and I'm probably wrong but that's just what I've experienced. And that isn't the case here. The songs are all well developed, especially considering that it appears to be self-produced while they pulled in Grammy-winning talent to mix the album.

The album starts off strong with "Letting You Go" a song full of multi-part harmonies and a clever rhythm. "One More For The Fire" is piano-based rock and roll at it's finest. It's followed by "You're The Only One", a song that's almost jangle-pop with a persistent organ playing in the background. I almost thought I was listening to "Bennie and the Jets" when "Running Too Long" began to play. It relies even more heavily on a strong piano than "One More For The Fire" and does so brilliantly by mixing in Eagles-esque harmonies. "The Finisher" would have fit nicely on the b-side of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours".

Tom Petty would be proud to have written "Don't Count Me Out". It sounds like what I wish his music sounded like. "The Whiskey Song" and "Veronica" remind me of the best of Ben Kweller with great guitar solos and strong, catchy choruses. The album mellows out a bit with "Part Of Me", a song that feels familiar yet I cannot decide what it reminds me of. It's just lovely to listen to, there's just enough ornamentation without it sounding cluttered.

The album closes with the bluesy, dancy "Too Hot To Handle" and the perfect album closer, another piano-led number called "Take It Out (On Me). The only flaw with the track is the title, which relies on the tired parenthetical. But beyond that, it's a beautiful song featuring a soulful guest vocal from Robbie Gil that reminds me of The Wonder Years.

Overall, this is an album that wears its influences on its sleeve without sounding like pastiche. Each song is expertly written and performed, where nothing feels forced or mechanical.

It's like a really good greatest hits record.
Become A Fan
official website
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by pitchperfect158
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
© Pitch Perfect 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Pitch Perfect
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact