The youthful voices coming out of the EP Meet The Christopher Brothers have a sense of ownership. Sure, they sound like they could pass for any Midwestern kid's garage band. But, the idea that they own their words, they own their instrumentation is evident in the first track, "Just Another Day." Naysayers will comment on the trivial lyrics, the lack of mature orchestration. But, when it comes down to it, yeah, the Christopher Brothers are young.
Cameron at 15 is the oldest and 'mans' the drums. Next is 13-year-old Charles at lead guitar. Ethan is 10 and handles the bass.
Just like when Hanson burst onto the scene in the late '90s, the trio's youthful voices and screechy notes matched the shrills of teenage-girls world-wide, the Christopher Brothers' vocals have maturing to do. In "Just Another Day" the lyrics are simple - go to school, put up with the routine and do what the teacher says. Underlining this theme is this catchy, punk rock chord a bit heavier than what listeners might find on Disney. As a listener, it is extremely difficult not to feel as though this song is not a novelty, and the brothers are not a novelty act because of their age.
Undeniable Brother Harmony
Like Hanson, the brother harmony is undeniable. In track two "What If" the rock vibe is more pop, and has a fun beat to it. It is very Disney-esque without being too sugary. This song's lyrics are safe and suitable for the tweens and even younger. Their voices seem to have more range on this one. The Christopher's seem to be missing the soul that the Hanson's had.
Track three, "Girl You Know I Care" changes it up even more. This song is definitely the ballad. The words are pretty sugary and young teenage girls will love this one. If it were back in the Brady Bunch days, expect this one to be on an episode of a school dance.
John Lennon Cover
The final track, "Imagine," is a cover of John Lennon's classic. The brothers do a nice job - and their voice certainly hits the higher notes. However, the subtle somber prowess is missing - it is too light. They have a nice layering in the middle of the song, but again, the youth of their voice is just too distracting to really commit to liking this song the most of the four.
Overall CD Review is B
Overall, Meet The Christopher Brothers gets a solid B. How can a listener not enjoy the brother harmony and the smiles coming out of the speakers? Fans of Hanson will enjoy them the most. Give them kudos for writing original music that shows signs of layering. This writer will be anxious to see these brother progress in the next few years.
Melissa Kucirek - Melissa L. Kucirek M.A. University of Nebraska - Omaha (2004) B.A. University of Nebraska - Omaha (2001) I'm a freelance writer ...
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