(Spunk)

Brotherly duo keep it simple, slightly stupid

If my brother and I ever had the ambition, talent or tolerance to be in a band together for more than 15 minutes, it might sound something like Jeff The Brotherhood, which is also made of two brothers from Nashville, Tennessee – singer and guitarist Jake Orrall and drummer Jamin. Aggressive, repetitious and minimalist almost to the point of banality, Heavy Days has the distinct feeling that they were shooting for something altogether much more intense and intricate, but were happy to settle on a dozen or so tracks of sludgy stoner rock that they could get drunk and thrash around to. Which is perfect, as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into. Personally, I feel it’s a quality album that has a level of easy accessibility to it from the first listen – Jamin’s simplistic drumming rarely changes speed or wavers from the beat, while his brother keeps the chords per song limit to around three, leaving enough space for the occasional short and squealy guitar sound or woozy solo. But I can also tell that Heavy Days is an album that will sit there silently on my computer for years, without being played again, and I will not even miss its presence. In the wake of Jay Reatard’s surprising passing, there may be a wave of new combos that hover in the territory between brash punk, stoner riffs and the cold and calculated Krautrock of NEU! The world could do with a few more enigmatic, obnoxious brats like Reatard, but so far Jeff The Brotherhood lack the momentum and intensity that typified his work. What’s worse, they get so close to the mark on so many occasions, it almost hurts when they shy away at the last minute. Blame it on the young man blues.

MITCH ALEXANDER

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