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When reading through reviews in different zines and on different homepages, you may stumble across words like "amazing", "ground-breaking" and "holy ***, I almost jizzed my pants" a whole lot, and a lot of the time it's just exaggerations. But this time it isn't - I'm certain that this is one of the best albums I've ever heard.
Who are Craig's Brother any way? Some of you might've heard of them, but my guess is that most of you haven't. By the time this review is being written, the band has been broken up for over two years, which would be way before their time. The band started out somewhere around 1996, in Santa Cruz, and went through a gazillion line-up changes before they broke up in 2001, shortly after the release of this, their last album.
The band played skate/pop-punk, but on this release, their style had more power-pop and emo tendencies, and that's what makes this album such an excellent effort. Because, unlike other emoesque pop-punk, this is both talented and genuine. It's not whiney, or poppy in a Britney Spears kind of way. It's just very, very good on so many levels. Everything about it just seems extremely well executed, everything from lyrics to music, from musicianship to production. In fact, a review for this album would fit on any kind of music site, not only on a punk site - because this is music I believe anyone could appreciate.
The album kicks off with a fast number, called "Glory" (and, when the album leaked on the internet, this was also believed to be the title of the album itself). The track starts with the sound of a helicopter passing by, which leads into a guitar riff and the songs kicks off. It's melodic, softcore punk about the atrocities of war, and they even incorporate a boy's choir in a break-down in the song. This song leads into a sweet punk ballad in swing tempo, called "Lullaby" - a down-tempo piece that in parts display lead singer Ted Bond's awesome voice, as he reached notes most of us mortal singers only dream of.
I won't bore you with an explanation of every song, but some songs must be mentioned, if nothing else then just for the sake of them being so damn good! "Back And Forth" is another slower number, and a great example of the sensitive yet intense nerve of Craig's Brother. It's an excellently composed song about the hypocrisy of organized religion - since the band was on Tooth and Nail, you know they supposedly were a "Christian band", although they themselves on multiple occasions has explained they're not, because they don't want to use God to sell records, nor limit themselves to a Christian audience - and that's good because if they wanted that, I wouldn't listen to them.
"Divorce" is an old song they released on their EP "Keepin' It Real", but here it's featured in a new rendition. It's a rather speedy number, with awesome vocals and innovative guitar-work. "Set Free" is a power-pop piece, played mainly on a clean electric, and yet again it features great vocals signed Ted Bond. Both "Masonic" and "Prince of America" were in whole or in part written by Dan McLintock, nowadays in the great band Inspection 12, and they're both awesome songs.
I try to, in every review, include the downsides of the albums I review. But I can't really come up with any negative critizism for this one. Maybe it's a little short - I would've liked more than 10 songs. Maybe it's not something the most hardcore punks would like. But none of those things take away any of the magic from this truly outstanding album. I warmly reccomend this to anyone, I think it's amazing and I stand by that.
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If you searched NOFX, Lagwagon, No Use for a Name, or Strung Out back in the day on Napster or Limewire you would have gotten definitely 1:07 of a totally sweet Craig's Brother song called "Who Am I?" from their CD Homecoming.
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
Yeah, that's how I found the band in the first place - in fact, a lot of their fans on their message board admits this was the case for them as well :p But I've since grown to love CB more than any of those bands.
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This album is obviously different than Homecoming. You have given it a 5. How is it different? Could IM me some tracks? (DFelon204409 @ AIM)
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
It's different because it's power-pop (or pop-punk, w/e) as opposed to the fast skatepunk of "Homecoming". The songwriting is way more varied (I mean, "Homecoming" has some awesome songs, and I love it, but the "octaveriff-verse-chorus-verse-break-chorus" formula isn't very exciting) and less formulaic. Focus is put on songwriting, -composition and -structure, as well as on melody and lyrics, as opposed to "Homecoming"s focus on speed and technicality (although it's not THAT technical). Don't get me wrong, there's still energy and great riffs on this album, but they use it to highlight the qualities of the actual song rather than using it just for the hell of it.
At least that's how I see it, but then again - I'm a raging fanboy and I love this album to death.
Sorry, I don't have AIM, but if you have MSN, I could get you some. Or I could upload some to my server. Just lemme know.
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I don't mind them using skate punk techniques just for the hell of it. Isn't skate punk just for the hell of it?
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Definitely gotta check this out, JiHoo (the guy w/the perfect NOFX/Lag/NUFAN/Mad Caddies tabs) raves about them, not to mention your review is excellent.
DFelon if you like some good SoCal punk, check out my reviews, esp. Propagandhi and BR...
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
Dfelon - Nah, I know, but genreally (lol, pun) skatepunk is pretty light-hearted and forgettable, even if it's one of my favourite genres (I'm talking bands like NOFX, The Vandals, Guttermouth - not too much depth). Craig's Brother took a step away from (or deeper into?) the melodic punk, and made something more meaningful with this album. Again, I might just be a total CB-whore, but that's how I feel 
STFDood - Yeah, depending on what style you're looking for, CB is definitely something to check out. If you want Lagwagon-ish material, "Homecoming" is one of the best albums in that genre. If you want something more mellow and introspective, "Lost at Sea" is totally amazing. Their earliest recordings (their demo, and the EP "Keepin' It Real") can be skipped because they re-recorded the best songs from those on the other albums anyway. Their newest EP, "EPidemic", is also awesome. It's somewhere in between "Homecoming" and "Lost at Sea" as far as speed and energy goes, but still with brilliant lyrics and melodies.
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STF, do you really think I haven't heard of Propaghandi and Bad Religion? I wrote the book on being a melodic punk fanboy in 10th grade. Also, I thought it was like Jens or Jenneh or Jerhen or something like that.
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how did this cd get a fucking 5?...it isnt that good!! i dont understand how u can like it but what ever
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Nah it's JiHoo (http://www.sci.fi/~k129875)... lol I hear you there... read any of my old posts on MusicianForums to get a glimpse of how... uh... "inspired" I was :lol:. Fanboy is putting it nicely. You into A Wilhelm Scream at all?
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Yes and no on Wilhelm Scream. Good but I've never glommed onto them.
And ToolEulogy, your comments are invalidated by digging an Offspring album recently.
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Dude, you can't be dissing on Smash... great album (even if they were trying to be a half-baked BR)... Ixnay and Americana were at least decent for their time...
As for AWS, DL Speed Of Dark, The King Is Dead, or The Rip... can't go wrong with them if you like SoCal punk.
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
how did this cd get a fucking 5?...it isnt that good!! i dont understand how u can like it but what ever
in regards to "pop-punk," yeah, it is THAT good. production was awesome and Bond's melodies are as good as ever
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Great review, pos. Love this album, although I thought it was released in 01'?
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i don't want to meet progmaster's brother
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