Breaking Point
Anti-, 2021
10/10
The Nashville duo of Aubrie Sellers and Jade Jackson, on this debut album the vocalists and musicians take help from Ethan Ballinger (synth, guitars, keys), Matty Alger (drums, percussion, synth, bells) and Rich Brinsfield (bass) for a rock’n’roll experience that’s aesthetically all over the spectrum and not lacking any energy.
“The Devil Is An Angel” starts the listen with a thumping garage rock feel, where Alger’s animated drumming complements the crunchy guitars and smooth vocals, and “Breaking Point” follows with much warmth, where country ideas unfold alongside some dream-pop nods that are quite alluring.
“Waste Your Time” lands right at the halfway point, and mixes power and melody with a very muscular form of Americana, while “Hush” indeed does burn slow with a poetic intimacy, “Fair Weather”, another excellent track, is then quite pretty and lush, where waves of haze flow amid the heartfelt singing.
Towards the end, “Wound Up” bounces and shakes with a firm, driving, twang friendly, rock spirit, and “Has Been” exits the listen with plenty of fuzz and gritty harmonies populating the Shannon Wright cover.
A truly outstanding record, Jackson and Sellers both have exceptional but very different solo careers, and together their collective strength makes for a listen that will appeal to both punks and cowboys, and is capable of giant swells of sonic flavor just as it is the occasional lullaby.
Travels well with: Dori Freeman- Ten Thousand Roses; Riddy Arman- Riddy Arman