 Brant Bjork & the Bros - Somera Sol Review
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Independent labels, home studios, and the Internet have made it very easy for a handful of driven artists to be very busy. Pretty much any conceivable project that a recording artist may come up with is achievable with the requisite talent and impetus at hand. One such artist is California Desert rock pioneer, Brant Bjork, famed for his stints with Kyuss and Fu Manchu. Brant's adobe might have gone up first, but he has not been content to let cacti grow while watching tumbleweeds drift by his doorstep. In his time off between bands, and since leaving fulltime touring acts behind, Bjork has released almost a dozen recordings, ranging from one-off bands to proper solo albums, to soundtrack work for his own films. Interestingly, he does little work behind the drum kit, the instrument for which he is primarily known, preferring on his solo work to man the guitar and stretch out his lead vocal talents. For as laid back as he sounds, this is one busy cat.
Brant Bjork's newest album, his second with the Bros, revisits the smooth, guitar-driven jams that helped to define the Desert Rock moniker as it stands today. Gone are the earth-shaking, bottom-heavy riffs of Kyuss, replaced by quirky lyrics and dusty wind-swept, guitar landscapes. From early Queens of the Stone Age, to the Desert Sessions collections spearheaded by Josh Homme to Orquesta del Desierto, the Desert sound has become more Santana and Sixties folk and pop and less monolithic, crushing walls of sound.
Somera Sol stands out among Brant Bjork's solo work. Cohesive and driven, it works completely as a single album experience. The Bros debut, Saved By Magic, while excellent in its own right, often felt too sprawling and experimental, like the band was just throwing things against the wall to see what worked for it. On the other hand, many of Brant Bjork's true solo albums, such as Keep Your Cool and Brant Bjork and the Operators, feel a bit lean and underdone. Not that they're bad, just short, like he had an idea and just didn't finish fleshing it out all the way. Somera Sol finds the perfect middle ground.
Each song brings its own personality to the party, but all of them are pretty much on the same wavelength. Shrine Communications is a highlight, with its harder edged guitar, and Love is Revolution comes at you with a pretty catchy hook. Never mired in seriousness or gloom like so many of his contemporaries, Brant Bjork's music always feels positive and laid back-Somera Sol is no exception. This is the perfect record to throw on when you're unwinding, or just sipping on a few drinks at the end of the day. You can almost feel the desert sun smoldering through your speakers.
For anyone looking to check out Brant Bjork and what he has to offer besides some stellar drumming on Kyuss and Fu Manchu albums, Somera Sol is a good starting place. There's a lot to choose from, but this album might be the best of the bunch.Recommended.
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Brant Bjork & the Bros - Somera Sol
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