Review: Worth The Wait
October 10, 2007 | posted by AB | 0 Comments
Here's a fan review of The Captive from Paul Benton, a recent high school grad.
It has been over two and a half years since Braddigan last released an independent studio album. The end result, however, is well worth the wait. The Captive releases on Thursday, following Braddigan's debut solo project Watchfires and a live album recorded at Goucher College.
The Captive is the first studio record with the band's newest member, Tiago Machado of Brazil. Although he plays several instruments on the record, Machado is an absolute virtuoso of bass. Originally from Brazil, Tiago has traveled all over South and Central America and has lived in Hawaii until recently. Reinaldo DeJesus, the band's incredibly talented percussionist, is from Puerto Rico and has traveled Europe, Japan, and many other nations playing alongside many great musicians. Even the band's American leader, guitarist and singer, Brad Corrigan, has traveled extensively throughout Central America, to Africa several times, and even to Japan since Watchfires was released.
Every song on The Captive is infused with influences from all over the world. These influences are evident in every song. The album even includes songs in Portuguese, Spanish, and Ketchwa. Although not included on The Captive, the band has re-recorded a new song, “De El” in Japanese. The overall feeling of the album continues the laid-back acoustic style from Watchfires, but also incorporates a reggae undertone throughout the record.
Two songs on The Captive, “Ileana” and “Mercedita” were inspired by a journey to Nicaragua. While outside Managua, Corrigan was invited into a garbage dump called “La Chureca” by a 13 year-old girl who resided there with her family. Corrigan was so deeply impacted by Ileana's family and the estimated 1,500 others who lived inside the dump that he wrote these songs, and started a non-profit organization called Love, Light, and Melody dedicated to the bettering of the lives of those living in La Chureca (www.lovelightandmelody.org).
Some songs, like the opening track “Valeu, Valeu,” “Customs,” and the previously unheard “Five For Rose” are incredibly upbeat and really display the reggae influences of the band. With driving percussion and swift bass-lines, these songs are catchy and stick with the listener throughout the day. Other songs, such as “Fare Thee Well” and the closing track “On The Mend” show a softer more contemplative side of the band. With mellow guitars and vocals, the lyrics to these songs are clearly meaningful to the band members and the songs seamlessly incorporate new instruments like harmonica and piano.
Some fans will recognize some of the songs on The Captive from Braddigan's Live at Goucher College CD, as well as Corrigan's days reunited with Dispatch for the Zimbabwe charity concerts at Madison Square Garden. The album as a whole is more of what Braddigan's fans have come to expect – incredible, meaningful music inspired by the band members' real life situations and experiences. Fans new and old will be sure to enjoy The Captive.
Get your copy of The Captive now...
It has been over two and a half years since Braddigan last released an independent studio album. The end result, however, is well worth the wait. The Captive releases on Thursday, following Braddigan's debut solo project Watchfires and a live album recorded at Goucher College.
The Captive is the first studio record with the band's newest member, Tiago Machado of Brazil. Although he plays several instruments on the record, Machado is an absolute virtuoso of bass. Originally from Brazil, Tiago has traveled all over South and Central America and has lived in Hawaii until recently. Reinaldo DeJesus, the band's incredibly talented percussionist, is from Puerto Rico and has traveled Europe, Japan, and many other nations playing alongside many great musicians. Even the band's American leader, guitarist and singer, Brad Corrigan, has traveled extensively throughout Central America, to Africa several times, and even to Japan since Watchfires was released.
Every song on The Captive is infused with influences from all over the world. These influences are evident in every song. The album even includes songs in Portuguese, Spanish, and Ketchwa. Although not included on The Captive, the band has re-recorded a new song, “De El” in Japanese. The overall feeling of the album continues the laid-back acoustic style from Watchfires, but also incorporates a reggae undertone throughout the record.
Two songs on The Captive, “Ileana” and “Mercedita” were inspired by a journey to Nicaragua. While outside Managua, Corrigan was invited into a garbage dump called “La Chureca” by a 13 year-old girl who resided there with her family. Corrigan was so deeply impacted by Ileana's family and the estimated 1,500 others who lived inside the dump that he wrote these songs, and started a non-profit organization called Love, Light, and Melody dedicated to the bettering of the lives of those living in La Chureca (www.lovelightandmelody.org).
Some songs, like the opening track “Valeu, Valeu,” “Customs,” and the previously unheard “Five For Rose” are incredibly upbeat and really display the reggae influences of the band. With driving percussion and swift bass-lines, these songs are catchy and stick with the listener throughout the day. Other songs, such as “Fare Thee Well” and the closing track “On The Mend” show a softer more contemplative side of the band. With mellow guitars and vocals, the lyrics to these songs are clearly meaningful to the band members and the songs seamlessly incorporate new instruments like harmonica and piano.
Some fans will recognize some of the songs on The Captive from Braddigan's Live at Goucher College CD, as well as Corrigan's days reunited with Dispatch for the Zimbabwe charity concerts at Madison Square Garden. The album as a whole is more of what Braddigan's fans have come to expect – incredible, meaningful music inspired by the band members' real life situations and experiences. Fans new and old will be sure to enjoy The Captive.
Get your copy of The Captive now...
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