The Brakes Give Blood. Release Date : September 13, 2005. Label: Rough Trade. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. The Brakes is a bit of old REM and a bit of the Pixies at the outset. Singer Eamon Hamilton has odd vocals, a really bizarre quality... but sorta cool. And as the disc ferries on, it gains more of a unique flavour. In parts, it has a bit of a clumsy country feeling to it, like the guy's a bit of a homebody fellow, humble, would never make it in the city... which of course isn't actually the case, but I feel like I'm in the Ozarks in "NY Pie". I dig "The Most Fun" so far - very monotone, but nice harmonies and a tempting build. I wasn't so sure about this disc at first but it's warming up to me now. The songs are short and to the point - there's sudden woo-hoo's and other assorted exclamations joyfully tossed in here and there. Okay it's decided I like it. It's so all over the place, one moment mellowing out in a 70's-like drughaze... just a british drunk perhaps?... and then back into that country-lite vibe. It's completely mad and bizarre... and consequently brilliant! Stomping, noises, cacophany, party! I'm really getting excited about this now. Definitely let this one take some time to soak in - the jarring voice might be a bit of a turn-off at first but wait til the whole carefree feeling of the album wraps itself over you and you'll be shimmying in no time. Sometimes the voice sounds a bit like Neil Young, then sort of like David Gray. Multi-facted has never rung so true. This really is fun - true songs interspersed with tiny freakouts. "All Night Disco Party." 'Nuff said. Song of choice : "Sometimes Always" I really like, but it's very mellow by comparison to the rest of the album. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere The Brakes website Published : November, 2005.