Bitter
Bitter Weeks: Peace Is Burning Like a
River (High Two)
Is everyone associated with music a closet musician with a burgeoning
rock star inside of them dying to come bursting out? Bitter Bitter Weeks
is producer/engineer Brian McTear’s (most notably known for his
work with Matt Pond PA) project, and Peace Is Burning Like a River
is his third full-length. Interestingly, although one expects self-indulgent
drivel, these types of producer-spawned projects rarely miss their mark.
Simple and effective, the straighforwardness of the emotionally charged
songs on Peace are easy to digest. McTear’s voice is surprisingly
emotive, ripping powerfully on album opener “Once and for All”
and softly gentle on “Lo-res.” Early ’90s indie-pop
along the lines of The Sundays are the blueprint for a lot of Peace
which also features McTear’s partner, Amy Morrissey. The two duel
vocally on “Terrified,” creating a strong web of emotions
with their delivery. McTear becomes positively hoarse and smoothly high-pitched
in turns on “Hanna,” a perfect alternating accompaniment to
the song’s raw guitar thrums.
With Peace’s comprehensive understanding of the various
aspects of the pure pop capabilities of indie music, it is a distinct
possibility that McTear has saved the best of his abilities for himself.
By Lily Moayeri
7/2007