The Blood Brothers - Crimes

I find it funny that the cover art to Crimes reminds me of the frantic crayon strokes of a kindergartner. Because if I had to describe the vocal style of ­­­­the Blood Brothers' two singers, ­­­­Johnny Whitney and Jordan Blilie, the frantic screaming children might not be far off. This certainly has to be among the most polarizing bands I can think of – you get it, or you don’t; you either love it, or you can’t stand it. First time I heard the Blood Brothers, I don’t think I could have hated it any more. I like melody. I like structure. I like singers who sing in tune – all of which this band likes to stray from. That said, I find myself coming back to this album again and again. Part of me still smirks each with each sour note and scream. Part of me is frustrated that I can’t predict where the song is about to go. But I can’t help being caught up in the energy of it all. The lyrics are abstract and surreal without reading like high school poetry. This music isn’t about anger and rage, but rather emotion and energy. Perhaps they best sum up the sentiment themselves in the lyrics of the album closer – "Everybody needs a little devastation." The band noted after touring to support their last LP, Burn Piano Island Burn, that they wanted to make an album they could better pull off live. This didn’t translate into slower time signatures or less complex arrangements on Crimes, but simply more focused and refined songwriting. Whereas the last album pushed just what a band like this could do, Crimes documents just how well a band like this could do it. [www.thebloodbrothers.com ]