brenton foster band
Reviewed by: Christian Oliver
Published: 5 May 2011
lp: you said
‘You Said’, the Brenton Foster Band’s first release is an excellent debut album, brimming with musicality, punctuated by polished song writing and topped off with superb production (Brett Taylor). Led by vocalist and keyboardist Brenton Foster and backed by accomplished Adelaide musicians - Cam Blokland (Guitar), Marty Holoubek (Bass) and Joel Prime (Percussion) - this pop rock album can most easily be aligned stylistically to bands and artists such as Thirsty Merc, Billy Joel, Elton John and John Mayer.
The Brenton Foster Band has been in existence since 2009 after originally meeting whilst studying music together at the Adelaide University Elder School of Music. The fact that they are practiced musicians is immediately apparent upon first listen to this album. The one word that kept popping up in my head space upon reviewing ‘You Said’ was ‘Quality’. These guys know their instruments; they know how to write songs and should be proud of the product they have come up with. For an independent release it’s a testament to the quality of young musicians we have right here in South Australia.
The first track on the album is ‘Here I am’, aptly titled as it gives you an introduction and insight to what this band is all about. Brenton’s piano and velvet vocals lead the way and immediately set the tone of this song. There’s a driving and foreboding undertone to this tune, and as Brenton croons ‘Here I am, this is me, I hope you like what you can see, cos I don’t mind if you don’t agree, this is the way it’s gonna be’, it serves a double purpose of carrying the message of this song in particular and also inviting the listener into the world of the Brenton Foster Band. A great track to kick off the album.
The next track ‘You Said’ is instantly more upbeat and in your face, riff based pop rock. Brenton sounds a tad aggravated in this song and it’s a pleasing stylistic about face in comparison to the first tune. The band sounds great on this jam, my only wish is they got even dirtier and really let loose. There's no doubt in my mind that this would really come to life in a live setting.
Up next is ‘Friends and Lovers’, a song that wouldn’t sound at all out of place on a John Mayer record. Laid back and soulful this number has the kind of chorus that you know is going to get trapped in your head and upon reflection, that fact is indicative of the whole record. Days after first listening to the album I couldn’t help singing the songs to myself over and over again.
‘So Damn Right’, is a stripped back number, full of call and response between Brenton and the band. It’s cool, tight and when the horns kick in unexpectedly adds a new flavour to the album that works beautifully. The sax solo that screeches through is full of attitude and spunk.
There’s a very interesting variety of styles on this album, and every time I thought I had the band covered stylistically they throw up a track that was sonically unexpected. Rock/Pop grooves aside ‘You Said’ also throws up country vibes, Jamiroquai throwbacks and the beautiful ballad ‘I’ll Send My Love to You’, which wouldn’t sound out of place on a film score.
The highlight of the album for me however is the final track; ‘Where Have You Been’. It’s beautifully constructed, Brenton sounds wonderful and Cam Blokland’s haunting guitar line permeates through your headspace long after the song finishes.
Perhaps the greatest strength of this album and the songs in general are that they are able to capture an individual and unique sonic vibe. Regardless of whether or not you dig that vibe, there’s no doubting that as a song writer and musician Brenton is immensely talented. Do yourself a favour and give this album a listen or go see them live at their next gig on Friday the 13th of May at the Promethean.
