When I began listening to the new album, “brent iii,” by Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler, I was not sure what to expect.
I had only vaguely heard of Zucker and not at all of Cutler.
The album is a continuation of their previous brent EP’s, “brent” and “brent ii.” It is made up of 11 tracks and classified as alternative-indie.
“Brent,” “brent ii,” and now “brent iii” are three installments that showcase the duo in their most authentic form, as the title alludes to their home of five years on Brentwood Road.
The two are not confirmed to be in a relationship but are just good friends and claim to be “musical soulmates.”
Zucker shared on Instagram, “when we sat down to write together again, songs just kept pouring out of us, and we knew we needed to give you everything we had” on the night of their leading single’s release.
My first impression was that the melody of the album is relaxed and soothing. The collaborators did a good job “find(ing) the calm in the middle of life’s storm” as Clare Gehlich said in her article “Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler bring color to life with new album ‘brent iii’ and single “black & white”” from Melodic Magazine.
I could easily turn it on while doing my homework, tune out the singing and let the melody play on in my head without it distracting me from my work.
The first two tracks, “ashes & rust” and “A-frame,” did not catch my attention on the first listen, but I was not listening intently.
When I listened a second time, I recognized the topic of abandonment, likely an absent father, as seen in “a card when I graduate — a call on my birthday — some years” and a reference to the mother wanting to be everything she never had.
“A-frame” is a bit more upbeat as it explores a dreamlike life with a partner that feels like home.
I was pleasantly surprised by track 3, “i miss you,” as I am not in a time of “missing” someone myself. However, I do not feel that you must go through a breakup to relate to it, as I feel it is relatable as someone who has changed so much and misses my “old self.”
I think this is relatable for many people who deal with mental health struggles. There are questions throughout the song that someone who has watched mental illness strip them of so much could ask themselves.
“Are you happy? Do you feel like you’re human again?” is one of the lyrics I found captivating.
Or another question a mentally ill individual would often ask themselves, “Could you try to love somebody for once?”
I absolutely loved “i miss you,” and I think it was my favorite.
The next two tracks were not that “ear-grabbing,” if you will. These were “terrible things” and “black & white.”
“Terrible things” is a cute little song though, as it delves into wanting simple closeness with a partner, like “I wanna know what you’re thinking” and wanting to know the little things about a person.
“Black & white” is the lead single, so I was surprised to not be struck by it. However, the meaning is sweet. It says, “you put color in my black and white” and relays a theme of comfort and safety in a relationship.
“Five minutes” sounded like it was about losing a loved one to suicide based on “five minutes from the bridge to your place” which insinuates that they jumped. Especially considering the next line is “it’s the light off the water that makes me think you’re okay.”
The next stanza is “And I can’t erase the innocent look on your face. As you watched me break, smiling, digging my grave.” This sounds like the other person in response.
For the next song, I was unsure what to expect as it is titled “toothbrush song.”
It was short, but I think it said all it needed to about missing the little things in a relationship, such as watching your partner do something simple like brush their teeth.
“Love you into loving me” is about unrequited love and “toothbrush song” is the other end where one continues to reminisce on a past relationship
I was so excited for the “and the government too!” track, but it was not at all about the government.
It was about a long-distance relationship or the separation between them. The song navigates who to blame everything for “keeping them apart.”
This resonated with me as my best friend lives across the country.
Additionally, it reminds me of LGBTQ+ love and feeling that they are not allowed to love one another freely.
“Just breathe” is another one I was excited about because I assumed it would be anxiety focused.
It was exactly that. It talks about how the brain spirals but then goes into talking yourself through it.
It is easy to hear the inner monologue as the artists talking themselves through those thoughts and feelings.
One specific instance is the “how does anybody think I could do okay at all?” to “you’re gonna be fine” which is only a one-line difference.
There is a bit of depression that is incorporated into the song as well which I like because that and anxiety go hand-in-hand oftentimes.
I was not sure what to expect from “good things,” but it is a good one to follow up “just breathe” because they both reflect feelings of anxiety.
“Just breathe” focuses on anxious thoughts while “good things” focuses on how the good things in life can be fleeting when those thoughts are present, like in the line, “life gets in the way.”
I always pay more attention to the lyrics, as I like songs with deep meaning. However, the music of the songs was calming, too. The entire experience was exceptional, but I liked “I miss you,” “five minutes” and “just breathe” the most.
This album was very well thought out by the artists and executed beautifully with meaning and purpose. I’d be interested to see how this third release would compare to the “brent” and “brent ii” EP’s. I also wonder if we will continue to see collaborations between the two singer-songwriters.