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Feb 07, 2014 Web Exclusive By J. Pace

Pontiak, folks. Opener “Innocence” rules, in precisely their nonchalant manner. It opens in mono, or close enough—a classic record-bin, vibrato-and-decibels power riff, exploding out into a stereo soundstage after four bars and bursting with guitars you know were recorded LOUD, because c’mon, just listen. “Lack Lustre Rush,” all Stooges groove and swagger, follows up with an eminently singable chorus couplet of “Hey/Wait a Minute.” You gotta raise a toast. These gentlemen are as consistent they come—if you’re a fan, you’ll never be disappointed. If you’re another asshole writing about music, you’ll keep writing the same review. If you’re both, well, you’ll continue by mentioning these three are siblings, from (and of) the Virginia farmland (maybe spiritually the “Parchment Farm”-land, nudge nudge). You’ll paint a vision of them spending hours in some kind of farmhouse studio under the night sky—a canopy of stars, nothing but time. Maybe you’ll specifically mention the pentatonic scale. Or maybe the group’s willingness to take entertaining production risks, launching the most straightforward riffery skyward in an instant. Maybe you’ll even devote the last desperately long sentence to Van Carney’s perfect vocal leads, try a little too hard with a phrase like “pathos of the pasture,” realize you’ve gone too far, and blame it on the wine. (www.brotherspontiak.com)

Author rating: 7.5/10