mylittlebrother

Howl

Big Stir Records

There is a lot of Brian Wilson in the songwriting here, not so much his epic scale, but his directness and clarity, that he means what he says. That also goes for The Wedding Present as an influence, and it's a very good combination.

So, say, the song “Chicago,” which is a plea to the singer's girlfriend not to go there, is emotional, but not overly emotional, just the right amount.

Will Harris, the leader of mylittlebrother, writes very gentle songs, even when he's chiding someone, as in “Responsibility” or “Janey.”

The music is college rock, and special, because it's memorable, like all good music is. You'll remember these songs happily, long after they're over.

Andrea Weiss