The Broken Stems: “We Are Home” One Of The Best Indie Releases Of The Year 2013!

Posted By: Rick JammPosted date: November 21, 2013in: Reviews1 Comment

Fresh out of the studio with our debut EP “We Are Home” and ready to take the world by storm! Jesse Gawlik (Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist) has attracted a group of musicians that clearly see his vision. With a book full of music and starlit eyes, he brought together The Broken Stems in March of 2013.

As the band has formed and shaped in the past six months, coming from a variety of backgrounds, The Broken Stems have proven their ability to produce music that stands out from other San Diego bands by simply embracing their originality. Influences in their music come from each of the member’s prosperous musical histories which include a Capella groups, reggae, jazz, blues, hard rock, and soul. No genre or emotion goes untouched with this band.

The Broken Stems released their debut 5 song EP entitled “We Are Home” on October 15th, 2013. The rest of the band comprises of the technical and explosive drumming style of Nathan Walsh-Haines (drummer/singer), the bluesy bass lines of Devon Stoll (bassist/singer), and the colorful sound of Brad Sweet’s Keys (keyboard/vocals).

“We Are Home”, displays an expansive and impressive array of instruments, recording techniques, vocal harmonies, and blissful bombardment of melodic tone that pervades throughout the entire album. The end result is an album that transcends genre; an amalgamation of music and lyrics that educates the senses whilst providing relaxation and reflection. Simply put one of the best albums I’ve heard this year.

It has been a long time since I have heard a new album that is as creative, exciting, and fun as “We Are Home”. This is the sound of a band at the top of their game, yet they’re only getting started. The lyrics are whip-smart literate and emotionally provocative, just as the music is every bit as cliché-free clever, as it is impassioned.

Of the five tracks, the last 3 are particularly strong, namely “Maybe”, “Climb Down” and “Castles”. On “Maybe”, my favorite track on the Ep, the band reminded me of a hybrid between the best sounds of The Police and Men At Work in their heyday. A lot of the credit for this must go to Jesse Gawlik’s unique vocal chords that reel you in with every verse and chorus line.

The subtle arranging touches throughout the Ep also add extra power to an already powerhouse band. “We Are Home” is a true listening experience, so much so that when you get to the end you are on a high listening to “Castles”. What a way to end the Ep!

The Broken Stems have crafted beautiful tuneful anthems with delightful riffs and hooks that will keep you humming and tapping. This is an instant classic; I’ll be surprised if this is not recognized as one of the best indie releases of the year 2013.