The Pinder Brothers - Speeding cars

The Pinder Brothers

Speeding Cars
self-released; 2013

3.6 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton

The Pinder Brothers are a new melding of sound that combines pure pop with alternative rock and bright singer/songwriter vocals. It’s not surprising that these two have inherited a gift for music; their father founded the Moody Blues over 40 years ago. It was their early immersion into the instrumentation of that style and time in music that shaped The Pinder Brothers’ sound and approach to this newest release. Many people will find many different comparisons when listening to Speeding Cars. There’s James Taylor, there’s John Mellencamp and so on.

“Last Days of Summer” has a certain 60’s meets 90’s sound with some classic rock elements as well as modern elements built into the chorus. There is a clear feeling of fondness and farewell in the dynamics and chords, at moments it relishes in the summer sun and at the next turn it slips into discord and shades, just briefly, into the loss of the season; the loss of the good times and memories these brothers must have shared over and over again. And we can all relate to that escaping sensation as September approaches – at least here in the Midwest. The drums punctuate the urge to make it last, and the guitar strides confidently into a very complimentary solo. All that’s left is a golden sunset.

Nobody can resist some good ole piano pop and “Driving You Home” delivers right out of the gate with perfect tempo and nice voice doubling harmonies. The song shifts cleanly from light to heavier moods. The falsetto carries the chorus and sounds spot on in the mix, a great choice of vocal that really strengthens the catchiness of this song. And what a great nod to the simple joys of relationships, as the lyrics go just driving the person home can make everything wrong be right - very true.

“Hollywood La La” is a folky ballad and “Dark-Eyed Angel” brushes a little too close to campy for upbeat light rock, but “Crash Down” turns up the power, throws in some funk guitar, and still keeps the sway of alternative. I think of Wilco and Fastball in some ways regarding the arc of this track. The Pinder Brothers seem to be inspired by the seasoned sound of an older adult contemporary more than anything that is current and that is a refreshing anecdote for songwriting.

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