Review of The Brent Flood's CD "s/t"

It's hard not to think the worst when a band talks on their website about making "the big push" and send a proud-as-punch biog that name drops supports with James Blunt. It conjures a certain sense of foreboding deja vu. Ready to have the optimism kicked out of them by the industry The Brent Flood offer some upbeat melodic Indie-pop. Not particularly ground-breaking but put together with thought and an ear for a hook or two. Sounding at their best like Gene, the band roll around a few bright ideas but nothing overtly memorable. "Digging Holes" has a Maximo Park-lite energy about it and "Beverley" is a song which makes up for a terrible title with a traditional set-ender vibe, dying down to build it up big. Ultimately though it's all a little too safe, nice and comfy and is certainly not the "unique brand of progressive Indie rock" described on the tin.