Album Review: Brzowski – “A Fitful Sleep”0
Posted by - In Music, Reviews
Brzowski is an emcee from Portland, Maine. Brzo has a signature sound of frantic rap, where he straddles the lines of rock and hip hop. And it is gooood. He has self released several albums and projects over the years — such as “Glass House Music” (2001), “New England Gothic” (2002), “Perpetual Winter” (2002), “MaryShelleyOverdrive” (2005), “Blooddrive Vol. 2” (2008), and more. Fast forward to 2009 when Brzowski and Moshe joined dark forces — they’re a duo that both stood tall in dark, progressive sound. They released their first collaborative project and together on Portland, Maine’s Milled Pavement Records. That was a 2009 album called “Like Woe“, which is a limited edition EP (in 2010, they also released “Like Woe Remixes“).
Brzowski has spent about 5 years touring throughout 5 countries (most recently, another Europe tour with Moshe). He’s rocked the mic in hundreds of performances. But enough about all that, let’s talk his most recent release. After a long journey of creation, Brzowski finally dropped his most anticipated, second solo album, “A Fitful Sleep“, on July 26th. And of course, it was released through Milled Pavement. It’s a 12-track album that features just one other mic guest… that being Awol One. While most of the production was handled by Agent8 (they’re long-time collaborators) , other people involved in beats include Graymatter, Chris Mick, Ease August, Mike Clouds, and Brzowski himself.
This album has a lot of complex lyrical content, so let’s get into my review…
01. OWN ——————- 5/5
Incredible opener for the album, as it invades your ears with a couple drum hits. Then, when you don’t expect it, you’re hit in the face with growling guitars and a grizzly Brzo rips through with “You don’t own me!“. He had me with that hook. He also made my blood pump faster when he belts out the chorus from the depths of his dragon-like soul, making it full and on fire. Fuck yeah!
02. FRIENDLY FIRE ——————- 3/5
“You can’t eat, drink, smoke, spend, or fuck respect… I’ve tried.” I’ve listened to this song time and time again to try to get a grasp on it… and I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s rapping about the listeners — fans and peers. Those that hold certain expectations. Or perhaps those that strive to be the best and will do anything to reach the top, which may result in “friendly fire”. But whatever the case, Brzo proves that he’ll keep going.
03. THE TOURIST ——————- 3/5
“I’ve drifted a long, long way from home…” Taking a small detour, Brzo adds a little bit of a laid-back, pop effort (up until he ups the ante just a little bit towards the end). But not too poppy, just enough to put a little bounce in it. And not too laid back, he still delivers those speedy vocals. The relaxed head-nodding and foot tapping pairs with the beat of gentle rolling guitars across mellow drums.
04. EASY ANGEL OF SPRUCE ST. ——————- 5/5
Swirling guitars, drums on a medium-heat front burner. Upon first listen, I gathered that this was a story of a lonely, empty man that’s in search to fill a void. You also soon find that his mind continues in a downward spiral of self-destruction. But as I continue to rewind and replay the song over and over, more lines stand out and unlock more to the story. There are various creepy and interesting things that make me think that this character is crazy. Like he’s an emotion-less, stalker, violent type. The quiet, introverted guy standing in the corner… with dangerous, perverted thoughts and ideas to inflict pain on others. But he’s trying to get help, hence the lines of talking with a psychiatrist and taking prescribed drugs.
In an almost sung manner, Brzowski feeds you the chorus, “He’s been told that he’s hard to love // But, uh, he’s not really sure what that means // When pushed for explanation, she just offered a drug // So he cried a river, named it ‘you’re all I need’ // First to come, beg to serve // You can’t fix what you find // Reclining on the leather… easy angel of Spruce Street // First to come, beg to serve // You can’t fix what you find // Reclining on the leather bed left to professionals”
Some phrases that stuck with me include: “A hairline that withdrawls out of lonliness // He tries to move forward beyond the morbid self-analysis“, “He’s got some tough soles that track on the carpet, a mystery fetish for busy signals“, “He walks with nervous ticks and psychological clock // Grandfathered vertebrae of the boys on the docks“, “Sweet relief, a stoic willingness to play with injuries“, and “In keeping the vulture vigil of callouses and bunyuns // Walk it off, apply pressure, hence constriction.”
This is one of those songs, in specific, that I’m curious and intrigued to know the true story behind it.
05. TRAVELOGOS (ft Todd Richard & Leif Sherman Curtis) ——————- 4.5/5
“Turn around, I think I wanna go home now // Stop the world I think I wanna get off now.” More than just a specific place, I think that Brzo is referencing the current state and filth of the world that he wants to get away from. “This hole’s gonna need more than epoxy and two fresh coats of patch.” He poetically complains (or realisitically describes) about natural disasters that keep rolling through (hurricanes, earthquakes), thousands of people dying left and right, babies having babies, people killing people, immense amounts of immaturity and stupidity, etc. “And there it is, natives are belligerant in and out of the new world // Every crater is a filthy bucket of new tattoos and rude smells.” A flute playfully weaves in and out of a deep R&B, jazz rhythm. Todd behind the percussion, Leif with the riffs. Loved the saucy guitar that rode out towards the end.
“And I’m a poet… If you’re not a purist, lean in and listen quicker”
06. NOSEBLEED SEATS ——————- 5/5
Taking you back into the dark swamps of which Brzo lurks… Agent8 lays out a murky, sludge-bubbling beat, with a hard, spaced-out, single piano note that resonates in a quiet room. I’m pretty sure Brzo was wearing a human skin suit, as he trudges upward to the top of the seats. And along the way, he’s terrorizes and slashes the do-good audience with his brash topics, and his full-force embracement of the evil thrills and all things crooked and corrupted.
07. COVENANT (ft Awol One) ——————- 5/5
What’s that? There’s angelic choir vocals and a light shining down from above, followed by hard bass plucks and two guys dressed in black. It’s Brzowski and Awol One… self-proclaiming sinners. Upon first listen, I thought it was some form of plead for rescuing from the guys (Awol says, “Come back to me sunlight, rescue this sinner // It’s been a long, dark winter.“) And maybe it is, but my thoughts have also shifted into thinking that they’re mocking, and rolling their eyes at, the hypocracy of organized religion.
Brzowski jumps on stage, letting out a deep growl of “Long live the covenant.” He invites Awol up to the podium. Awol’s husky vocals kick off with, “Will they sing of the dead, just like they’re bringing back the lifeless // Look at my young corpse, trying to die righteous // I’ve always been a fan of the dark // I’ve always been good at hiding that I’m on drugs // Touch my chest, feel how it trembles // Look at the rest, how they fall and disassemble // The crying inspiration, listen to the church choir // Go home and light myself on fire…”
“A hollow stare, I changed the channel as if nothing had happened.”
08. 2 MONTHS OF HOUDINI ——————- 5/5
“Arrest me before my cardiac decides to quiet me.” Electrical noise of fragmented moans spread over a distortion of sound. Crowding around it are voices on top of voices that are repeating the same lines about darkness and demons – “there are demons haunting the world“, “regions of other darkness“. Brzo takes on the role a specific type of demon and dark topic — that of a cocaine addict. He runs through their symptoms of OCD habits, self destruction, isolation from everyone, insomnia, paranoia, laziness, etc. “Ostracized my friends with whatever label fits them best, this rooms a mess, a fitful sleep for the anxious and depressed.” Deep song, I really liked it.
Towards the end, Brzowski notes that the song is dedicated to his cokehead landlord who “fucking blasts Led Zeppelin way too loud“.
“Just fine… No really, I’m just fine. Just lying and waiting for the fine fruits to rippen”
09. QUEEN OF OCTOBER ——————- 2.5/5
This song didn’t really grab me — infact, I kept passing up this track to attack it last. I felt that I had to pretty much peel back the beat (try to tune it out), to pay attention to the what was being said. And when I forced myself to do such, I noticed that the lyrics have dark, mysterious and evil connotations. Brzo talks about an inner beast and sacrificing himself to the “queen of October“, while fighting off “November wolves“. Bare with me for reaching right now… but maybe the metaphor of October is driven by it being known as the start of the dark, cold winter. Or even towards Halloween, with its superstition that the living and dead walk among eachother on that night. So the Queen of October could be death. Ahhhhh, just some guesses here.
10. I’M THE ATLANTIC ——————- 5/5
Begin an ethereal, cinematic beat by Mike Clouds, as a voice quotes from Whitley Striber’s 2006 book called “The Grays“. Ashley Sterling sings a melancholy hook, as Brzowski holds hope in his heart while delivering a sad song of heartache and loss. It’s a relatable song about pain. It’s beautiful and straight-forward, take for example the chorus, “I’m the Atlantic… the cold ripples the crash // I’m the lighthouse keeper, the wind whips, the future is ash // The old man in the sea, I try to stretch the days to last // I keep a beacon lit through storms, but I know you won’t be back.”
11. THE BIRDING ——————- 5/5
“How do you get over such thick walls // I never met a carpenter I didn’t resent // How do you see me through such a thick fog // I never met a carpenter, I never met a carpenter // How do you get over such thick walls // I want a split tongue, never refuse to repent // How do you know the result from the cause // I never built a damn thing…”
When I listen to this song as a whole, I think of Mike Shinoda… and I say that with good intention. I really like the beat and overall delivery; it has an even melding of hip hop and rock. I picture a breakdancer doing some ill footwork to this song. Real nice guitar work from Brzo, too. I hear this song as a struggle… to survive… to adapt… to succeed.
12. STARING AT THE TOWEL ——————- 4/5
“The silence surrounding is something worth preserving…” Turn the mood down from the previous song, to set a silent, apathetic background for the solo, slow-motion plucking of a guitar… shortly melding in grim drums. An irritated Brzo stands in the midst of it and calmly explains why “everything sucks”. “Now it’s all candy parties, photoshop, and leg warmers // The 80s sucked the first time, but I suppose you would have no way of knowing“.
At two points (the middle and the end), the song takes an abrupt left turn for a distorted peak of static sound and rapid vocal firings… then crashes back into the slow working of the instruments and mood again.
“Atta boy.. sit, fetch, beg, and piss on the electric fence // Don’t rob a bank in an age of counterfeit // Everything sucks, an over-simplified distillation // In pursuit of full disclosure, that’s not exactly what I’m selling”
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I thoroughly enjoyed the album. A lot of the songs were dense and took a few (or more) listens to dissect, and decode, what he was saying… but it’s worth it. I personally enjoy music like that, because it pushes you to really listen to what’s being said and to dig deep for your own interpretations. Buy it! (*NOTE* I apologize if I got any of the lyrics wrong.)
Check out the video below to watch/listen to the release party he had. Major thanks to Moshe for passin’ the album my way. Be sure to click on over to Milled Pavement to browse the artists over there.
PURCHASE: iTunes | Amazon
