Luke Brindley

The D.C. band, led by singer-songwriter Luke Brindley (and featuring bro Daniel and bro-in-law Jared Bartlett), has a toe in alt-pop and a whole foot in earthy, earnest heartland rock. Filled With Fire, their third album, finds Luke Brindley’s songs working better than even on their lauded sophomore disc, Playing With the Light. - HARP Magazine

The Brindley Brothers’ previous album, 2004’s Playing With the Light, was an unexpected delight—a stunning work of heartfelt pop craftsmanship arriving from out of the blue. On Filled With Fire, Luke and Daniel Brindley prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that Light was no fluke. Call it “pure pop for thinking people�?—the Brindleys weave a tapestry of sound and verbal images that richly reward any modest effort the listener cares to invest. The constant throughout Filled With Fire is Brother Luke’s voice—wizened, well worn and world-weary, it envelops the listener like a favorite sweater. Take the album’s opener, “Rise Above,�? for example. This tale of a desperate soul “always running, with blood on my hands�? who “made it out of New Jersey with nobody knowing�? has certainly been told before, but perhaps not with this combination of sincerity and warmth. The Brindleys invite the listener along for the ride; pity the fool who declines. Elsewhere, “Man on Fire�?’s neat brass accents and gospel backing vocals nicely complement the meat and potatoes rock and roll found on the rest of the disc. “Saturday Night�? is a second cousin to “Chuck E.’s in Love,�? and does the family proud. On Filled With Fire, the Brindley Brothers create unabashedly American music, offered straight up without regard for fad or fashion.

Rick Schadelbauer - Amplifier

On Playing with the Light, Luke and Daniel Brindley create concise, guitar-driven power pop fattened by fuzzy Fender Rhodes organ and brotherly harmonies made possible only by a genetic link. Fans of the Gin Blossoms or pre-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Wilco will swoon to the disc's opening title track, with its bouncy melody over taut guitars; the piano-and-horn pomp of "Roman Candle"; and the chunky power chords of "Slow Burn" and "Supernova." Luke Brindley's linear narratives take you into Manhattan's entertaining East Village on the Jackson Browne-flavored "Hudson River" ("I'm sitting here in Peter Cooper Park/Street preacher punctuates each sentence with a bark"), but for most of the album he deals with family, friends and the restless ache that fills the passage of time in a romantic heart. With nine songs in thirty-four minutes, brevity is obviously important to the brothers Brindley, and they've seen enough performers to understand that it's a requirement in holding the attention of listeners -- when they're not playing, the two run Jammin' Java, a popular live music venue and coffeehouse in Vienna, Virginia. - Rolling Stone

Luke Brindley's lyrics convey a haunting mistiness that is mirrored in the moody black-and-white photos of the CD booklet. Tasty dark vocal harmonies add to the effect, and Brindley propels his songs with catchy accompaniment vamps. A variety of influences is apparent in this debut collection, including the rambling acoustic environment of New Morning—era Dylan and the smokiness of early Townes Van Zandt vocals, while the melodies and fingerstyle guitar patterns bear a clear Bruce Cockburn stamp. At the same time, Brindley has his own compelling musical voice. It all adds up to a satisfying musical experience. (Luke Brindley, www.lukebrindley.com)

—Gary Joyner - Acoustic Guitar

Luke Brindley cuts a large swath with his third solo album. He previously recorded with brother Daniel as indie pop-rock darlings the Brindley Brothers, but he sounds equally at home singing folk, rock or blues. An accomplished guitarist who cites Paul Westerburg and Michael Hedges among his influences, Brindley navigates a vast musical map.

"Never Alone” makes use of organ and horns to accentuate a Motown vibe as Brindley assures “If I knew the way I’d carry you home.” “Ain’t Got You” is steadied by a disco drum beat in contrast to the folky melody and lyrics about how “even the beautiful things are broken and torn.” “Surrender” nods to Springsteen and the E Street Band, unfolding the tale of a girl with a reckless love.

The album highlight “Hold on to the Mystery” features interwoven acoustic and muted electric guitars as Brindley delivers image-laden lyrics: “Lightning flashing over this suburban town, you get one split second to look around.” It won’t take longer than a split second to decide to bring Luke Brindley home.
- Performing Songwriter

"Top 12 DIY. A skilled guitarist...subtly impactful songs...haunted" - Performing Songwriter

THERE ARE SEVERAL reasons singer-songwriter Luke Brindley's new self-titled solo CD qualifies as one of the year's best roots-rock releases, though it arrives just under the wire and took only three days to record. For one thing, it doesn't sound as if it were made on the fly.

Far from it. In fact, if Brindley and producer Jared Bartlett didn't put a lot of thought into making this CD, choosing the songs and working out arrangements, they leave no clue. This isn't a big production, but a well-crafted and fairly seamless one, a collection of tunes that consistently makes the most of Brindley's raspy voice, soulful delivery and impressive guitar work.

The album opens with "Never Alone" and other horn-charged reminders of Brindley's Jersey roots, songs that somehow manage to sound neither dated nor overly derivative -- no small achievement given Bruce Springsteen's looming shadow. Not long afterward comes an elegantly melodic acoustic guitar take on "Love Minus Zero/No Limit," a quiet, mid-album reaffirmation of Bob Dylan's influence. Brindley's disarmingly engaging way with a simple love song is also evident, and, as the certifiably catchy "Never Forget My Love" illustrates, it's a gift that brightly complements the album's reflective ballads and subtly atmospheric backdrops.

Brindley and Bartlett, who also plays guitar, are supported throughout the session by a lot of local talent, including Brindley's brother Daniel on keyboards, pedal steel guitarist Dave Van Allen, saxophonist Chris Watling and trumpeter Kevin Cordt. Here's hoping that Brindley gets lots of opportunities to work with the same band in concert.

-- Mike Joyce
- The Washington Post