The Peanut Gallery

Sad Family's first review(s)! Check 'em out.


Similar Kindred Souls by SAD FAMILY

   So, the album begins with Chris Wheeler naked in bed begging a question without a necessary answer...interesting. Whilst these similar kindred souls keep pounding on one another, one cannot question the exact purpose of the music...obviously disgruntled with life Chris (lead singer, bass (at this point)) proposes a toast with a shout to "shut up" to himself, or to the listener that he is not speaking prophetically in anything. While many point out an influence to the Minutemen (which is there) to this group it is only a glimpse of an influence of the groups true style. If one looks deep enough groups such as Mission of Burma and the Screamers are huge influential factors to the sound of the group.

Well, after nesting as insects (i.e. Latex Nuns) for a few years Sad Family raises it's defensive stance to God knows what...and it's jazzy! The album becomes an epic atonal jazz/punk fest which is something I need to stab me in the gut on a nearly daily basis. While half-naked dreaming of being Henry Rollins brother in 1983, Chris questions if his thoughts are from someone else in a lonesome, neurotic way. I think he had too much coffee and had his palm read or something. I don't know though. The music still kills! And that's all that matters with Sad Family....they're talented.

   Grant (drums) proves himself as an amazing musician in this project. I had the pleasure of performing with him and Austin Vice (guitar) in a previous project(s) (Opium Den Massacre/Saget/Drafted). Brenda's keyboards are solid and leaving nothing out of the group besides a solid addition. Very well performed and produced.

   Telephone Conversations is an awesome bridge for songs that cannot be called a filler by any means because it's awesome as crap.

   Then, Terrible Excuse comes where Chris lays on the line what he views as a "terrible excuse" in an almost optimistic and empathetic fashion. Proclaiming the "the future is behind us." The full stop with the bass building up is awesome.

   The album ends on a bittersweet humorous note with "In Laughter" in which it is hard to tell if Chris is being sarcastic or not about someone being worthy of his attention. Regardless the song is intense and filled with unique talent from all four band members.

   I don't feel like I need to rate the album of this supergroup...it wouldn't make sense. I could say 5/5 or 9.934234234/10 but it wouldn't matter...what makes the group is the unique display of audio stimuli that leaves a hole in history that may only matter twenty years from now (like all of the best groups) if any of them/us live that long. The ending is epic much like the end of the first song...so angry yet with a weird feeling of care and love and compassion from the group.

Odd? Yes.

Good? You decide.
I say "Yes, very good" but "you decide" is what the group probably expects, so go ahead.


SAD FAMILY official E.P.!!!11

   The new E.P. has a much more urgent and serious feel than "Similar Kindred Souls." Opening with a feel of Mission of Burma, Sad Family opens with a desire for a "name for this war" that they are fighting....and a desperate youthful need to fix it. Brenda Burger now performs back-up spoken word and plays bass which only expands the talent of the group. While originally scared of Grant Behrens (amazing drummer) leaving the group...Chris Wheeler moves to drums in a way that captures ambiance of the group much harder than before. This E.P. is so different in approach it's hard to call them the same group. With the new version of "Don't Let These Words..." projected in a freshly understandable way...Chris' emotions inflict the listener harder than before. In a speed which was originally planned for Sad Family the group plays this slightly older tune in a way that cannot be compared to its' old version. It is very distinguishable and more intense with the decline in speed. Pushing the listener to a new extreme in a Flipper-esque fashion. "Millionaire's Enlightenment Course" seems like a very well played joke at first, but possibly pointing the group in a new direction. Near the end the song sounds much like a fine ditty from "The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull" by the awesome drone/ambient band, Earth meets old Modest Mouse. Sad Family sure sounds like they have something fresh and new to offer. Which, in this writer's opinion, is a good thing, but only with fresh talent....which these guys/gal have to offer. Soak it in and rejoice for Sad Family.


- 6/10/2011 - Kyle G. Swansong