Rohan Kohli
01/10/06, 11:33 AM
Brighten – Ready When You Are EP
Release Date: November 9, 2005
Record Label: Independent
Tracklisting:
1. Television
2. Ready When You Are Download (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=107224)
3. Place Less Traveled
4. Just Breathe
5. Friends For Lovers
To say I was stoked when I received Brighten’s Ready When You Are EP in the mail would be an understatement of great magnitude. To say the EP lived up to its high expectations would be an understatement of even greater magnitude. Ready When You Are, Brighten’s debut EP, is warm, fuzzy-feelin’ indie rock/pop at its finest—it seriously doesn’t get any better than this, folks.
Drawing heavily from Jimmy Eat World and taking cues from bands such as Copeland and twothirtyeight, Brighten has crafted a remarkably mature, moving, finely layered, melodically stunning EP, accenting already beautiful songs with slightly delayed/reverbed lead guitars, the occasional acoustic guitar layer, group vocals, and subtle keyboards, among other things. Able to create both darker, slower songs such as “Television” and “Just Breathe,” as well as more up-tempo, poppier songs, namely “Ready When You Are” and “Friends For Lovers”, Brighten has done well to create an EP that, though short, shifts moods enough to keep the listener interested.
The stand-out track, “Ready When You Are,” begins with a mellow keyboard gently outlining the basic melody of the song before launching into a beautifully layered verse; the Copeland-esque chorus then soars with its huge hook, and is pretty much a musical orgasm. The follow-up track, “Place Less Traveled,” doesn’t let down either with its spacey, intertwining leads, its deep, syncopated bass, and most notably, its gorgeous, somewhat hushed vocal melody. The warm, full, pristine production helps all the band’s elements shine.
I really don’t have any complaints with this EP—except that I want more. Trust me, if you’re a fan of Jimmy Eat World, Copeland, Mae, etc., this is an EP you not only want, but need. Mellow, melodic, and passionate, Brighten’s Ready When You Are is quite simply outstanding. It may not be for everyone, particularly those who require demanding music, but this is the music I love; I hope you find as much joy in this EP as I have.
Release Date: November 9, 2005
Record Label: Independent
Tracklisting:
1. Television
2. Ready When You Are Download (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=107224)
3. Place Less Traveled
4. Just Breathe
5. Friends For Lovers
To say I was stoked when I received Brighten’s Ready When You Are EP in the mail would be an understatement of great magnitude. To say the EP lived up to its high expectations would be an understatement of even greater magnitude. Ready When You Are, Brighten’s debut EP, is warm, fuzzy-feelin’ indie rock/pop at its finest—it seriously doesn’t get any better than this, folks.
Drawing heavily from Jimmy Eat World and taking cues from bands such as Copeland and twothirtyeight, Brighten has crafted a remarkably mature, moving, finely layered, melodically stunning EP, accenting already beautiful songs with slightly delayed/reverbed lead guitars, the occasional acoustic guitar layer, group vocals, and subtle keyboards, among other things. Able to create both darker, slower songs such as “Television” and “Just Breathe,” as well as more up-tempo, poppier songs, namely “Ready When You Are” and “Friends For Lovers”, Brighten has done well to create an EP that, though short, shifts moods enough to keep the listener interested.
The stand-out track, “Ready When You Are,” begins with a mellow keyboard gently outlining the basic melody of the song before launching into a beautifully layered verse; the Copeland-esque chorus then soars with its huge hook, and is pretty much a musical orgasm. The follow-up track, “Place Less Traveled,” doesn’t let down either with its spacey, intertwining leads, its deep, syncopated bass, and most notably, its gorgeous, somewhat hushed vocal melody. The warm, full, pristine production helps all the band’s elements shine.
I really don’t have any complaints with this EP—except that I want more. Trust me, if you’re a fan of Jimmy Eat World, Copeland, Mae, etc., this is an EP you not only want, but need. Mellow, melodic, and passionate, Brighten’s Ready When You Are is quite simply outstanding. It may not be for everyone, particularly those who require demanding music, but this is the music I love; I hope you find as much joy in this EP as I have.