#ohbree

Their newest full-length Burn Bridges, Burn Pies blends the light-hearted theatrical music featured in their debut album Death By Broomstick with the dark storylines in their second release We Miss You Edward, Come Home.

With 13 songs, there is a lot to draw from on this album. Whether it’s the spooky blues-heavy track “16 Years” that sounds like it was pulled straight out of a modern Frankenstein movie, or the raspy rock’n’roll inspired “Which Doctor, Witch Doctor?” listening to this album in its entirety is a journey. 

Like a fun house full of mirrors at the carnival, there are several twists and turns in this album that will surprise you and excite you all at the same time.

“Mr. Sweet” is one of the catchiest songs on the album, yet it wraps up at a little over a minute. A few more seconds and this song would be perfect. Vocalist Andrew Scott emphasizes every syllable in song, most notably in chorus “We lived a life so ordinary” which goes well with the theatrical theme of the release.  

“Spine” is a fast-paced banger. It's almost hard to follow, but that's the beauty of it. There is a sense of urgency to the song, and although it is dark, talking about how “you can't feel anything when they break your spine,” the happy tune would do well played over a silent Disney animation.

This album was well produced and intentional, both things I’ve come to associate the band with. 

Burn Bridges, Burn Pies sees the band experimenting more with their horn section, as noted by their interesting harmonies and build ups that weren’t as prominent in their previous releases. 

It’s hard for me to get into albums that have more than 10 songs. OhBree managed to turn that around for me. I blame it on their phenomenal transitions--each song blends seamlessly into the next, often with interesting overlays like whistles and talking teleprompters, making it seem like you're listening to one long song instead of 13 individual ones. 

One thing OhBree do extremely well is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. Their music is upbeat and poppy yet dark and intense, making me want to jump up and dance as I wait for them to release new music.

Reviewed by: Angela Flores

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The EP is hard to classify into a single genre. The release sounds like a cross between circus punk, industrial indie pop, and the type of music one expects to hear playing on television shows late at night.

The opening track, "Manfish," is a quirky, ska-influenced song that would go well in the background of an old, black-and-white Mickey Mouse video clip. The song seamlessly fades into “C’est La Vie,” a more spoken word-esque track with harmonies that are to die for. The song is warm despite its dark lyrics about how “this complicated life ain’t always what you want it to be.”

“(Does Your) Ghost (Haunt the Place You Die In, or Does it Go Home?),” stands out among the EP. The fun song opens up with lyrics, "If there's one thing in life you can be sure if, it's that you will certainly die and so will everyone you love." The song is a bit overwhelming, to say the least, with it’s burlesque, comedic vibes and layers upon layers of sound effects. However, the track is a good embodiment of your typical OhBree song with its lighthearted stories that accurately depict the not-so-glorious aspects of life.

"Moon," the EP's final song, feels like walking around the crazy mirror house, feeling unsteady but sure that you can find your way out. The track’s eerie beat, coupled with mesmerizing horns and building background harmonies creates a powerful song that transforms listeners into a time that was so close, yet seems like it was ages ago.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is known for fostering some of the punk scene’s greatest acts. Although punk prides itself in going against the grain, few groups actually accomplish that. But here are OhBree, a group who, despite being active in the scene since 2010, are continuing to make waves because of their willingness to go against the status quo. 

On this release, the band created their own brand of indie, pop, unclassifiable, circus punk that, despite the connotations that may come with it, sounds phenomenal.

Reviewed by: Angela Flores

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