OTR: Brouhaha - We Should Be Divas

[illusionofjoy]

It's June already? I have this awful feeling that my life is slipping away as any latent potential I have is wasted. When I die, they'll find a desiccated husk of wasted talent and bitterness, I'm sure. In any case, as it is the first day of a new month, it is another chance to start fresh with writing daily. As such, I'm going to try to crank at least one of these puppies out every day for, if not the rest of the year, then the rest of this month (or until the next time I become distracted, depressed, what have you). Hopefully this will take my mind off of some of things which have been frustrating and annoying me.

Brouhaha is a band from Rochester, New York who released their debut album We Should Be Divas in 2001. The only reason I heard about this band was because Tim Clements, who played guitars in the band, attended SUNY Potsdam and was a member of WAIH. There is one certainty when it comes to college radio: if someone in a band joins up, they are going to want their recording added to the playlist, for better or worse. Brouhaha was actually one of the better "local" bands where members (technically one member) were leaning on me to give them some airplay.

Two years after Divas, the band released 69 Minutes of Freedom. Not long after that, Tim left the group for part unknown. According to Brouhaha's MySpace Page, they replaced Tim and are working on a new album.

Overall, Brouhaha's sound is pretty straightforward power pop/punk rock. T-shirts sold by the band were emblazoned with the legend, "I want my wuss rock!" Though there are more moments of muscle (albeit not misogyny) than meekness on the disc.

When I was playing Brouhaha on my show, "Piece of Cake" was put into high rotation, namely because the song screams, "hit single!" It's hooky, upbeat, has a sing-along chorus and is less than three minutes in duration - by industry standards, that's the formula for a perfect single (it helps that it's a good song too).

"Women Eat Pork" is another stand-out track that never got played on my show because the word "shit" in the lyrics disqualified it from daytime broadcast. Still, it's a clever response to the generalization that "men are pigs." Of course, Jewish lesbians definitely don't eat pork.

Divas closes appropriately with a ballad, "My Best Dream." It is the longest (clocking in at over six minutes) and most downbeat song on the album. It was also my choice for a follow-up "single" after playing "Piece of Cake" to death. Not only is it a great way to close an album, it's also a great way to close a radio show.

Comments

[agentorrange.livejournal.com]

Strangely I lived with Tim and do not possess a copy of that Divas album. Most awesome it was though.

[illusion-of-joy.livejournal.com]

I don't think the band has copies for sale anymore, so burning it for you wouldn't be a cardinal sin against independent musicians if you want a copy. Of course, buttressing the argument against burning being a sin is the sentence in the liner notes which reads, "Thank you for buying our album...or burning it from a friend...or stealing it...well, for showing any interest in us at all, we hope you like it." So, if you provide a mailing address, I'll send you a copy.

[agentorrange.livejournal.com]

I went over to Jerry's house and borrowed his copy after reading this article. Current rocking out to Women Eat Pork.