Don't let the opening twentysome seconds of shimmering music box music fool you, this is not your all-too-typical whiney emo album.
Imbroco is comprised of a foursome line-up including such indie rock veterans as Scott McCarver (Mineral) on guitar, Gabe Wiley (Pop Unknown, Mineral) on drums, Matt Breedlove (Pop Unknown) on bass, and Rory Phillips (The Impossibles, The Stereo) on vocals, and is one of the three bands (Pop Unknown, Imbroco, The Gloria Record) to emerge from the ashes of the late Austin-based band Mineral. These four veterans combine their song-writing talents and musicianship to fashion a brilliant freshman release on Deep Elm.
Rather than offer us just another run-of-the-mill emo album, Imbroco melds together an ingenious blend of indie rock, post-hardcore, shoegaze, and emo that induces more of a dreamy shoegazer effect, than tries to play up on the listener's emotions. From stirring whispers to intense, sonorous screams, Phillips' voice sweeps, descending and rising song after song amidst a sometimes turbulent with distortion, sometimes calm sea of layered exquisite instrumentation, spotlessly driven guitarwork, and percussion that more often than not appears to propel itself unaided. Lyrically, Imbroco is abstract and poetic, full of striking imagery, in most cases appearing to be esoteric.
The album art is also beautiful, blazoned with gold stars and moons, perhaps alluding to the astral effects this album produces.
As the last chords of the song "Calm Your Fears" slowly vanish, perhaps the only fault with this release is that it is naught but six songs in length, and leaves the listener with the unsatisfied desire to hear more.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Justin W. JonesStarting the album off with a child-like xylophone, one gets the idea that this album is not going to be a pick me upper. As much indie rock as it is pop, Imbroco is forging a melodic path that transcends musical categories. Made up of current and or ex-members of huge indie favorites such as, Pop Unknown, The Impossibles, Mineral, and The Stereo this all star line up rivals the 2000 Los Angeles…
