The Brutals
The Honeymoon Period
10 Track, LP (2010, Half A Cow Records)
Related: The Brutals.
The tunes on this – the first and very likely only Brutals record ever – were recorded over a strange period of time two or three years back when the band was an erratically functioning live unit that emerged from the ashes of Melbourne pop outfit The Treetops.
The cover art is a map of singer Ben Montero’s beloved inner-north Melbourne. Apparently it was originally going to be marked with the location of memorable drug deals, but that idea was dropped for obvious reasons. That said, there’s a distinct air of turning off your mind to relax and float downstream here. The album jangles like a pair of cheap earrings, or perhaps a pair of rhinestone crusted spurs? There’s a fair dash of late-’60s West Coast country rock to be found here too.
Most songs are led by the twin voices of Montero and Emmett Smith – often together, sometimes separate, but it’s hard to tell them apart. Opening track ‘Dead Seaman’ moves from comfortable nonsense (“I live in an apple core/I’m pushing all the buttons just to find your floor”) to something much bleaker (“What could be worse than being buried alone for all eternity?”). Track three ‘Jeneane Jeneane’ starts beautifully, tinkling along with gentle and direct lyrics that perfectly complement its ace homemade video, while the verse/chorus switch in ‘Runaway Hands’ is a perfect example of how everything on this album seems finely, but effortlessly crafted. Sometimes, however, you’d wish they’d take a leaf from the Bacharach handbook and really go for it. While the added mandolin and piano on ‘Goldilocks’, are nice touches, there’s still the niggling feeling that a massive choir and a soaring key change would take the song to even greater heights.
In some ways the best thing about this album is the fact that Half A Cow insisted they would only consider releasing it if the band reformed to play some shows around the same time. Catching them live during this enforced reunion would be a good adjunct to this disc, but it’s not essential. This record will outlast the band by a long chalk.
by Trevor Block
cant wait to get a copy of my own!
Such great song on this album
where did they get the soft plastic jewel cases for this?
they were playing this at carwyn cellars over the weekend. sounds great, need to find a copy.
Gmail it?
save up $20?
Great review, thanks for the exposure for this record, M&Ms. Not since Smudge's Real McCoy, Wrong Sinatra has there been such a concise album chock-a-block with ''hit'' after ''hit'', in my opinion, released on Half A Cow.
Two points, though. Half A Cow did not insist the record would be released if the band 'reformed' to play shows around its release. Makes a good story, just ain't true. I don't tell bands what to do (Half A Cow's blessing and curse!).
Second point - there will be another album. The triple-setter 2069 Montero Music & Arts Festival due out 2012.
i need to see these guys, post me the details for the next show!!
look here
Damn. I fell for another Montero special.
Great album. Found a good interview on the whole Brutals, TM Band, Treetops conspiracy here..
Just last night I realized I was too late to pen the MN review for this record. For my money the west coast influence is, compared to TM band and Treetops, pretty minimal. The Brutals is the one band which Bjenny has let the whole Lionheart 90's template stay visible and not be brushed aside. SERIOUS STUFF. There is definitely some Smudge to this record both in hit writing and influence.
I'd be interested to hear this. That Ben Montero does have a way with a tune.
(Also, Bjen, your hotmail has been hacked - just got some silly spam from it.)
yeah sux!!
did i offer you viagra? Maybe you need some?
I just got in back from Mexico on the buses from hell and MAN THAT FESTIVAL WAS LOCO!!!!!!!!!! Yo garage! Some radical mexicano bands. Oh and goddamn those latino indie gurls ********
I need a shower and a plane to San Fran stat!
Austin feels a bit ghost townish after sxsw. halp
I know I shouldn't be psoting in this review thing. lame. but just wanted to say a big HOLA to mi amigos!! XOX
hahaha. awesome. come back soon.
that goldilocks song is rather great!
They were great on Friday night.
MOAR PLZ.