Husband-wife duo Inches From Sin are back with a brand new album – Jerusalem Hill Road – released via Bongo Boy Records. Stacking twelve pop-rock tracks into a 45-minute run-time, Karen Holloway Brewer (keyboards and vocals) and Robert Brewer (guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and vocals) have lined this album with the scenery and inspiration of the Chemung Valley and River region – an area which famously inspired Mark Twain’s writings, giving this record an extra kick for any literary fans out there. And despite Jerusalem Hill Road resembling a Stephen King horror title, Karen and Robert’s sound is (for the most part) anything but that.
“Curve Balls” samples ball game commentators before unleashing dirty rap/trap verses with a lightweight and oddly wholesome touch. Karen steals the show on “My Light” as the duo dives into the melodic side of pop/rock, edged with electric guitar riffs and a 90s club feel. “See Me” verges on being a heavy metal or symphonic goth anthem, Karen’s vocals picking up hints of Lady Gaga to craft one of the album’s standout moments.
Then, the power ballad “As I Get Older” unfolds against an 80s synth and guitar backdrop before “How I Feel” brightens the mood with its bongo backdrop and an addictive, sing-along chorus. The uplifting jam, “For The People,” melts hints of reggae, indie rock, and heavy metal into its mix, “Making Me Dream” carries the vibe with its skank beats and glam rock guitars, while “Shovel In The Trunk” lets its Thriller-like intro side-track into a shock rock murder scene.
“Want Me” diverts the mood with its almost bittersweet acoustic soundscapes and plushly layered vocal harmonies, as “I Guess It’s” welcomes lovesick lyrics only a husband-wife duo could write so well. The chilled out jam, “Aligning With The Stars” steps into the realms of jazz and blues rock, underlined by prog organ vibratos and an almost a cappella vocal style. “I Don’t Care” closes the album with stadium rock-inspired choruses and a progressive blend of instrumentation, from bubbling synths to chugging guitars.
Put together, this explorative record is a many-legged creature lacing strands of diverse and ever-intriguing inspirations into its multicolored sonic tapestry. Cohesion would only make it sound bland and one-and-the-same with the bulk of other records oversaturating the modern music scene – Karen and Robert’s innate sense of inventiveness forms this record’s driving force, keeping listeners gripped and wondering what strange world they’ll be led to next, while the duo’s unmissable chemistry gives this record its memorable heart and soul.
Our final verdict? Recommended.
BELOW: Listen to Inches From Sin and check out their music online. Please support Inches From Sin by visiting their website and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
Follow, stream, download & connect with Inches From Sin online:
Website · Bongo Boy Records · Stream