Cary Brothers: Who You Are (2007)-Amber Vilate
Cary Brothers: Who You Are (2007)
By Amber Vilate
I “discovered” Cary Brothers two years ago, when he toured with The Fray and Mat Kearney. Although I ended up missing a good portion of his set, I bought both of the EP’s he had and I’ve been in love with his music ever since.
This full-length album has been a long time coming. Fans have been waiting – going to concerts and buying soundtracks to movies like Sky High (which they might not have otherwise bought) to get music from Cary. But one or two songs on a movie soundtrack just hasn’t been enough. Luckily, he finally gave fans what they wanted.
Mellow, but addictive music, encourages multiple listens and multiple concert experiences. Cary Brothers produces consistently addictive music and fans can expect to enjoy all of the songs given on this record. The new album is a mixture of the new wave vibe like that of Straylight Run and old school folk that Joshua Radin does so well. Combining those elements with well-penned lyrics and an odd echoey recording of vocals gives a unique sound to this indie production.
The album starts off strong with “Jealousy.” The song sets the tone with the sweeping instrumentals and, what I call, tragic love lyrics. Then comes “Ride” that, although I prefer the version on the Waiting for Your Letter EP, almost convinces a listener to drop everything and go out on an adventure of some kind. “Who You Are” quickens the pace, adding even more to the beachy feel of the album.
A notable song in its wonderful simplicity is “Honestly” which was also on the Waiting for Your Letter EP. While on the EP it had less accompaniment, the addition of the violins lends more to the melancholy of the piece without overdoing it.
The one thing I would have liked to hear more was the fabulous female vocals that are on “If You Were Here” and “Precious Lie.” Even though it is Cary’s music, beautiful harmonies found on those songs would have been welcome on “Glass Parade” and even “The Last One.” I think one of the pitfalls of many indie-guitar-pop vocalists is that they don’t utilize back-up vocals enough. Regardless of who the artist is, it’s important to remember that the voice is an instrument and an extremely versatile one. A good harmony can do more for a song than adding several other instruments.
Even with that small critique, this music is wonderful. Whether a song has a quick tempo or a slower one, it adds onto the mood and enhances the experience for the listener. By the end of the album, we feel like we know Cary and his music and we want to hear more. That’s all I can ask for from an artist. Do I want more from Cary Brothers? Absolutely.
Copyright C. 2008 Amber Vilate