Reviews
| Jack Brag releases Unbroken White "Jack Brag is back with a brand new disc titled, Unbroken White. This disc marks the group's sophomoric rising and continued foray into their dark and symphonic flavored journey. Jack Brag's 2008 release Jack Brag was a refreshing record and that trend continues with this current disc. The band has a knack for combining the greatest vibe of the '80s with complex orchestration and compositional complexity. In addition, while the band churns, swirls and goes where no man has gone before, their sound is still viable in many commercial situations. If there was ever a band perfectly suited for soundtrack alignment, it is Jack Brag. " Unbroken White features 12 interesting songs steeped in the chorus pedaled power of 1984. This is a very tough thing to do without sounding corny and pretentious, but Jack Brag is what they play. The believability factor is in the way they execute the performance on this disc. Songs like "Second-Hand Clothes" chug underneath compressed and hypnotizing cello work courtesy of Jay Varga and the Joy Division-like beats of Bill Quinn as vocalist Jim Robertazzi belts it out with a mix of Curtis Ian meets Stan Ridgway while slam dancing into David Byrne. ""Box Of Sad" features The Cucumbers and feels like the hit on the CD for me. I really love the strange, pre-chorus melody that spirals down the rabbit hole and clears the way for the crystalline cellos of Varga before being swallowed into the ring-modulated jangle of guitarist Rich Ferreira. Deena Shoshkes adds summer day sunshine to the chorus with her '70s vocal splashes, and bass man Tony Donato wrings soul out of each note, never overplaying as he makes his scalable, complex runs. ""Unbroken White" fires like a demented Doors song gone gleaming and dark. Many progressive chord changes drag the mind into sonic chasms and percussive code makes a musical statement here. The cello glides alongside the spaced out vocals of Robertazzi like a hawk scanning the landscape for make-up-wearing punkers in trench coats. ""Start A Fire" is a quaint, celebratory sing-along that once again brings forth recollections of Jim Morrison. Perhaps it is the melodic choice that Robertazzi shoots for, I'm not sure, but whatever the case, Morrison has to be a major influence for him. The band comes together well here blending guitars, bass, cello and drums with the easy feel of a group that has been doing it for years. "Unbroken White is an album steeped in the tradition and attitude of the '80s. Blending bold and experimental compositions with the talent of each experienced member is the cement that enables Jack Brag to stand up to the elements of superficial fashion and musical hipster whimsy. "It was also great to see special guests The Cucumbers on this disc. You cannot get any more genuine than using those fine musicians on any musical project and I am glad they are survivors. A refreshing and outspoken oddity, Unbroken White will break apart all your pre-conceived notions when it comes to learning about new music with a twist from the golden past. For more information on Jack Brag, head over to jackbrag.com. -- John Pfeiffer, The Aquarian Weekly, on Jack Brag's albumUnbroken White. See the full review here: Shoreworld: Cape May Music Conference and Jack Brag |
"Eschewing a conventional approach to music with something much more fresh, creative, and different, this album embellishes dynamic pop-rock with elegant orchestral flourishes such as cellos and piano to create a distinctive sound that's both graceful and rousing in equal measure. The supremely passionate and full-throated vocals soar straight to the heavens and beyond. The rich, dense, and tasty arrangements maintain a steady and tuneful keel throughout while the snappy tempos and constant beats keep things hoppin' and boppin' along at a steady clip. Moreover, the songwriting is likewise on the money terse and to the point, thereby ensuring that this baby covers all the correct right-on bases to qualify as a total winner." --Joe Wawrzyniak, Jersey Beat on Jack Brag's new album, "Unbroken White". See the full review here: The World According To Wawrzyniak |
"Mixing heavy, hooky American bar rock with sounds right out of cabarets/vaudeville houses/chambers, you get some weird chemistry here, with a darker liquid bubbling in the test tubes than you'd expect. Best cello-core band on the scene today!" --Jake Austen, Roctober Magazine on Jack Brag's new album, "Unbroken White". See the full review here: Roctober Reviews |
Jack Brag—Fear Of Falling Overturned "The ‘80s was a wild decade for sure. The clothes, the coke binges, the clubs and the music were off the gnarly scale. It was a period of formation for many eclectic bands and those quirky underworld sounds were the foundation of many of the music forms that we still use today. Jack Brag is a band that has upheld that murky time tunnel of mysterious Psychedelic Furs-meets-The Chameleons genre, mixing Curtis Ian-styled vocals with Peter Bucked jangling guitars and Robert Smith fringed string arrangements, all burning bright within their poppy punk wave sound and covered with a curious outer shell of deliciously dark chamber music influence. The name Jack Brag is a curious band name as well. Jack Brag is a 19th century expression meaning “a pretender who ingratiates himself with people above him.” While the term is Oliver Twist in its presentation, I think I understand what they’re trying to convey. "Jack Brag is also one of the bands that contributed to the Winter Hours project, A Few Uneven Rhymes, with their version of “Hyacinth Girl” done smartly with the talented Deena Shoshkes, formerly of The Cucumbers (to be reviewed here soon), which they worked from their original point of view to the point that its been called a born-again hit by many fans of the original Winter Hours song. The thing I like about writer Tony Donato’s composition style is his hardcore dedication to traditional ‘80s sensibilities. Whether this is intentional or not, his approach to his music is eerie in its time-zoned accuracy. "The disc starts out with “Those Days,” a Joy Division-meets-The Police number, featuring pearlescent string melodies and echoed pianos weaving in and out of shimmering chorused guitars basing their sound on the greats and offering a view into their pop rock roots as they take off into their own direction. “Mona Lisa Smile” and “Fear Of Falling” are in the same type of vein as well, done smartly in gothwave angst without sounding monotonous or predictable. Actually “Fear Of Falling” is one of my favorites and has deep remnants of Philadelphia’s Robert Hazard And The Heros with those great off-kilter doom and gloom vocals and ethereal hip “dark shadows” guitar lines. "“Truth And Lies” and the hip upbeat of “She Waits” (a tune with an excellent trippy string bridge) are yet another couple of tunes that shine bright with remnants of the Boomtown Rats melancholy-meets-the poppy rock of The Cars, thanks to the vocals of Jim Robertazzi and the writing style of Donato. Not a bad thing to be in my book as I dig this kind of quirky and adventurous stuff. I’m happy that someone can get this close to a vital style without making me vomit from remembering just how horrid that decade was. "“Interlude” is another interesting number and brings the groups description of “vaudeville and whimsy theatrics” into play. Unfortunately that is way too short and the group launches into disc finale “Black Forest,” a rock and roll number in the vein of Billy Squire or early Zeppelin that while good, strays outside the continuity zone of a band that obviously excels in the old school CBGB’s universe. Tunes like “Time Is Mine” and “What You Leave Behind” don’t seem to gel as well as others, sounding more like early twisted Sister than Bauhaus. "Jack Brag is a budding group that shows tons of creative promise in their immediate time. This latest CD sits well alongside their contribution to The Winter Hours disc as a couple of early year highlights. If you’re into that dark and velvety ‘80s thing go check out a live show and grab the disc online." |
"...an underground hit all over again!" --Phil Rainone, JerseyBeat on Jack Brag's cover of the Winter Hours classic, "Hyacinth Girl." See the full review here: "A Few Uneven Rhymes - A Tribute to Winter Hours (mainmanrecords.com). | "One of my favorite tracks on there is the Jack Brag track...." ("Hyacinth Girl") --Keith Roth discussing the Winter Hours tribute album, A Few Uneven Rhymes, on The Electric Ballroom radio program. | "..while Jack Brag & Deena Shoskes have the privilege of covering the signature "Hyacinth Girl." --The Big Takeover issue #64. See here for the full review in pdf format. | "Absolutely love the sound. Sort of a Doors-y, Kasier Chiefs feel with a bit more pop." --Geoff General Manager, WAMH, Amherst, MA discussing Jack Brag's debut CD. | "...beautifully interpreted..." --Ken Shane, The Aquarian Weekly regarding JB's contribution to the tribute album, "A Few Uneven Rhymes" See the full review here: Various Artists: A Few Uneven Rhymes: A Tribute To Winter Hours |
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