When you claim co-signs from Dam-Funk and Jack White, it’s practically a sure shot that I’ll like the music. But I was hesitant to check out JEFF the Brotherhood’s music for the obvious reason that they are named JEFF the Brotherhood. And as committed as I am to my nomenclature, I’m not about to start naming bands after myself. Blogs, maybe. But bands are serious business. People pay money to see them live and who wants to publicly admit that they’re seeing a band that sounds like it could double as a Kabbalistic clan of crooning orthodox rabbi’s. Also, no one in the band is named Jeff.
Then I watched the video for “Whatever I Want,” which instantly absolved them of any stigmas attached to their weak alias. The first minute and a half is a solid but unspectacular psych-rock burner in the blade of Black Sabbath and Iron Butterly. Then things get weird. Jack White, who produced the track and released it on 3rd Man, comes in with some kaleidoscopic organ whirls that sound like he took home some LSD from The Gathering and decided to put it to good use. Consider it the Dazed and Confused Soundtrack re-made by kids who thought Led Zep was too pop.
Should you opt to play the spot the influence game with the Brotherhood, it’s all inscribed in the mix they made for Dam-Funk’s G.F.F. Tumblr. There’s Priest and Thin Lizzy and a bunch of largely obscure proto-metal bands. I suspect what Dam and Jack White see in these guys are fellow diggers, devoid of artifice, and monomaniacal about staying raw. Regardless of the name attached, those are ideas I can endorse.
Download:
MP3: JEFF the Brotherhood-“Health & Strength”
MP3: JEFF the Brotherhood-“Shredder”
MP3: JEFF the Brotherhood-“Diamond Way”
ZIP: V/A (JEFF the Brotherhood) – Early Metal Mixtape (Side A) (Left-Click)
ZIP: V/A (JEFF the Brotherhood) – Early Metal Mixtape (Side B)
