Dead to Me

Dead to Me: Little BrotherLittle Brother (2008)
Fat Wreck Chords

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: GlassPipeMurderGlassPipeMurder
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 14th 2008Growing up an only child, I never had the responsibility of helping raise a little brother. Likewise, I never got to play the role of a little brother, though lately I've felt as such (especially the kind that's "been getting into trouble" as Dead to Me so eloquently imparts in the title track of th.

Growing up an only child, I never had the responsibility of helping raise a little brother. Likewise, I never got to play the role of a little brother, though lately I've felt as such (especially the kind that's "been getting into trouble" as Dead to Me so eloquently imparts in the title track of their latest EP). First, a bout with unemployment left me putzing around Minneapolis in my own state of urban blight for weeks. As autumn set in, I found out the hard way that free parking in uptown is non-existent, charging a $250 towing fee to my MasterCard. So maybe I'm not a little brother in the literal sense, but I can certainly relate to the namesake of Dead to Me's new EP, and perhaps is why it strikes such a chord.

Those who enjoyed Dead to Me's startlingly successful debut Cuban Ballerina will have plenty to like about Little Brother, as the disc's opener "Don't Wanna" fits in perfect continuation with the best of what the former had to offer. While the untrained ear will hear mostly catchy pop-punk, subtle elements of hardcore from the hoarse shouts of ex(?)-Western Addiction bassist Chicken and soulful `77 street punk vocal stylings of former One Man Army frontman Jack Dalrymple help form the dynamic, engaging, and unique sound present in songs like "Arrhythmic Palpitations."

Adding a newly perfected reggae/ska flavor to their arsenal, the title track shines like a tasteful Clash homage with dual vocalists, as Dalrymple muses, "There I go fighting the wrong wars / They're showing me how deserts can storm / So many sand-dusted letters that they send back home" while Chicken helps bellow out the final chorus. "Ran That Scam" follows, with Chicken taking the lead on vocals above a bouncy punk rhythm on arguably the EP's catchiest track, while the closer "What's Wrong" recalls Dalrymple's street punk upbringings in One Man Army with the most Briefs-like Dead to Me has ever sounded.

While there have been plenty of solid releases in 2008, none have reached out with as much conviction and immediacy as Little Brother does. Though it's certainly a gift to have great, new music from Dead to Me, I don't think I'm alone in hoping for another full-length soon to continue on in the direction this EP has taken them. But for now, I'll sit back, put on some Dead to Me, and commiserate with the little brother I never had.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

peheme (October 25, 2011)

My favorite EP.

GrrraveSS (September 17, 2009)

what the fuck is it with pseudo "ex junkies" cleaning up, starting a band and getting a record deal based solely on thier schmoozing. used to be you started the band, plugged away unsuccessfully for years, then got the record deal, then got the drug problem. this sort of "street cred/back story already in place for the press release" bullshit only exists in california.

swellersfan7407 (February 17, 2009)

this is what punk rock should be more like

screeching_bottlerocket (December 8, 2008)

forget best ep of the year, this is one of the best releases of the year. i can't get enough!

MN_punkmaster-skaman (November 18, 2008)

Best EP of the year... hands down.

GlassPipeMurder (November 17, 2008)

i don't think urban blight means what you think it means.

i think it does. http://www.answers.com/topic/urban-blight-1

hubitcherkokov (November 17, 2008)

Hasn't grabbed me quite like "Cuban Ballerina" did. Best EP of the year? I don't know, I like "Alchemy Index: Air and Earth" and "I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon" way better.

Lmnndtlgrph (November 17, 2008)

i don't think urban blight means what you think it means. perhaps you think "blight" means the same thing as "plight"?

Phantom_Maggot (November 16, 2008)

opps...I mean this score.

Phantom_Maggot (November 16, 2008)

One of the best releases within the last two to three years. Flawless victory.

Vinnie (November 16, 2008)

DTM deserves a parade or a national holiday or something.

dev (November 16, 2008)

As good as Cuban Ballerina which, I believe, I also gave 5 stars.

capitalist_pig (November 16, 2008)

needs more hip-hop.

xote (November 16, 2008)

One Man Army was cool. This not so much.

NotPatriotic (November 16, 2008)

Amazing

HOISTDATRAG (November 16, 2008)

ps.

HOISTDATRAG (November 16, 2008)

Haven't been this excited for an album in a long time

telegraphrocks (November 16, 2008)

It's becoming more and more clear why people have turned on Scott.

Dude, are you even trying?

crackpotdemagogue (November 15, 2008)

score is for the first paragraph of this review, and for anything dead to me ever releases ever ever ever

ohcomely (November 15, 2008)

this EP is amazing.

Mat_T (November 15, 2008)

I miss One Man Army

Cos (November 15, 2008)

Saw this band open for Paint It Black

Someone needs to tell the bassist that he isn't in D4

jamespastepunk (November 15, 2008)

This record is fantastic. Not the best EP released this year, but all you new kids jocking it need to go out and buy it.

olddogsneverdie (November 15, 2008)

this is the best ep i've ever heard. it takes the trophy from the loved ones self-titled debut in 2005.
i loved one man army. i loved western addiction. i loved dead to me when cuban ballerina came out. now i FUCKING love dead to me.

maverick (November 15, 2008)

Still don't see why people flip out so hard for this band. Decent songs.

-Scott

telegraphrocks (November 15, 2008)

If I previously liked a band, then hear a new song and don't immediately like it, I should keep my fucking mouth shut and wait at least one month.

When they posted the title track I thought it was boring, and was then publicly a dickhead about it. Like, a week later I fucking loved it, and remain in love with it.

My apologies to DTM. All five songs are awesome.

This is the best release (EP / 7" / Split- category) of the year.

ramblinboyofpleasure (November 15, 2008)

to say that these could be the worst 5 songs for the new album means the new album would have to be one of the best of all time.little brother is the best song all year.5 stars all the way,fuck your high and mighty 3!

XCARLUPANDDIEX (November 15, 2008)

three stars

eazyd2 (November 15, 2008)

your reviews are usually pretty good but that first paragraph is fuckin gay

eazyd2 (November 15, 2008)

needs more cowbell.

Problematiclogic (November 15, 2008)

Great.

damo (November 15, 2008)

it's good but not as good as cuban ballerina. hopefully these 5 are songs that aren't good enough for the new album!!!

oldpunkerforever (November 15, 2008)

eh, so so, not feeling this as much as everyone else, one man army was soooo much better-oldpunker-

exspectator (November 15, 2008)

far and away the best ep of the year. jack dalrymple's lyrics are spot on, chicken's vocals are amazing, and dead to me might be the best pop-punk outfit on the planet as far as i'm concerned.

ChadReligion (November 15, 2008)

Just got this on orange swirl vinyl... pretty solid E.P. What's Wrong and Little Brother are my personal favorties. A good sampling of the direction they are going in their sound.

joeg (November 15, 2008)

Awesome EP. I was disappointed with Cuban Ballerina with all the hype that it got. But I love all these songs.

R3vengeTherapy (November 15, 2008)

I guess my review came off as a bit too gung-ho about this EP. Whatever, my opinion still stands, even if the review isn't published. This is better than any other EP released this year in my opinion, as all 5 songs surpass or stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best tracks from Cuban Ballerina.

interesting...i wasn't aware that the Police ever complemented their soft reggae with punk rock. duly noted, however.

I don't want to start a stupid argument, but have you ever heard Outlandos d'Amor? It's very much like that.

Regardless, this EP fucking rules.

BarleyPat (November 14, 2008)

GlassPipe always writes good reviews, even if I don't agree w/ him. I do agree w/ this one. Street Dogs - not so much (I love them, I just think State of Grace is fucking TERRIBLE.

The point is, your reviews are always well written, imo.

shrapnel (November 14, 2008)

I really like "Don't Wanna"

oreooooo (November 14, 2008)

This is amazing, fantastic, awesome, great, so good, damn near perfect. I love this ep so so so so so much.

LIQUIDSWORDS (November 14, 2008)

I listened to this album all the way through, and had an erection that lasted 7 hours.

GlassPipeMurder (November 14, 2008)

i think the review is alittle trite, and i bit off. I hear some major police-like stylings, more so than clash

interesting...i wasn't aware that the Police ever complemented their soft reggae with punk rock. duly noted, however.

betteroffskankin (November 14, 2008)

i think the review is alittle trite, and i bit off. I hear some major police-like stylings, more so than clash, in the song little brother. Also, I always took little brother as more of an overtone for a political disenfranchised individual that feels they have no effect, not a fraternal little brother. I could be wrong, but that what I take out of it.

fucking awesome album.

versus_god (November 14, 2008)

Fucking sweet, can't wait for African Elephants.

timorous_me (November 14, 2008)

This record is fantastic

usversusthem (November 14, 2008)

These five songs all pretty much rule. Need we say more? No.

joshisnthardcore (November 14, 2008)

good cd, i love the song little brother, its amongst one of the best songs ive heard all year.