You, Me, and the Universe
Label: Lightworks Records
For fans of: Muse, U2, Coldplay
If you've never been to Tulsa, Oklahoma, you may not be aware of just how big the sky is. When there isn't much terrestrial elevation to speak of, and not but a few small clusters of skyscrapers blocking your view, there's horizon everywhere you look, and the vastness of the atmosphere and beyond never escapes your attention.
One of my favorite songwriters, John Moreland, once wrote a song noting the significance of the "Endless Oklahoma Sky." It's that very sky that must have served as a source of inspiration for The Wright Brothers' EP entitled You, Me, and the Universe.
The six-track offering opens with "Awakening," an epic power-pop tour-de-force boasting far more larger-than-life qualities than you're likely to have prepared yourself for. Vocalist Jacob Wright soars above an impressive arrangement of wildly fluttering guitars and synths, only to lightly float back to earth to join in tastefully musical harmonies with his brothers.
After "Awakening," the rest of the record unfolds, each track more grandiose than the one before. The Wright Brothers have been sure to include all the musical elements that any modern pop-rock fan would be looking for, but have dramatically raised the stakes in orchestrational immensity for the genre.
Never letting go of the idea that this record was inspired by the sky, I couldn't keep from imagining light-speed space travel when I first laid ears on the exciting opening synth lines of the third track, entitled "New Science." The following track, "The Waltz" momentarily shifts gears with the gentle breeze of acoustic guitars and a relentlessly infectious humming/whistling melody in the introduction.
Now, don't get me wrong - if you enjoy a good pop record, You, Me, and the Universe doesn't disappoint. However, one thing that is glaringly obvious about this record is that the songs plead to be heard in a live performance setting. It really doesn't matter how much money you spent on your headphones - they won't do these songs justice.
When you really get down to it, I most certainly would recommend picking up or downloading a copy of The Wright Brothers' You Me and the Universe. But what you need to do, really, is make a point to catch them live.
-JR
visit The Wright Brothers' official website
get the record on iTunes
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