Money is the latest single by Belfast-based indie rockers Brother Vice. The song is anthemic and sounds like it belongs to the 2000s pop punk era, except it’s less edgier and the production makes it sound like an actual rock band instead of a pop act with guitars.
The song begins with the first verse and the lead singer’s breathy vocals, reminding me of a 90s Green Day kind of song. The second half of the verse has the guitars being more present and the drums playing harder and stronger.
The production is stellar enough to make you hear and appreciate the guitars, bass, and drums each in its own right and almost no element or instrument bleeds over the other or outshines it. The chosen effects/tones of the guitars, however, make for that desired rock n roll atmosphere and the layering is (deceptively) simple and easy to appreciate.
I was surprised by how clean and on point the lead singer’s voice is. It’s a different approach than most bands in the genre, since he didn’t add rasp or distortion, but I loved his clear tone and his enunciation and emotion which allowed an energetic delivery of the chorus. His voice will definitely stand out with me for some time.
Bottom line is, this band rocks and doesn’t over simplify things to do so. In under three minutes they give us two verses and an iconic emotionally gripping chorus that will resonate with everyone who listens to it. This is a 2024 rock anthem that sounds like it’s part of an early 2000s movie soundtrack because of how nostalgic and relatable Brother Vice have crafted it. One of my favorite recent releases.
