Album review: The Abdomen

Sibling bands have a history of success in the music industry and I predict The Abdomen will be no different. Hailing from Minnesota, The Abdomen is brothers Jake Abdo (21) and Matt Abdo (20), with their younger sister, Mari Abdo (17). Their music is feel-good, pop-rock with catchy melodies and sweet harmonies. However, do not confuse that description with the bubble-gum pop in which so many sibling bands get stuck. The Abdomen’s music may be catchy, but it’s complex and real. Each track has an underlying emotion bubbling close enough to the top that you can reach in and touch it.

On “This Time” Jake takes the lead vocals; his sound the rawness of a wounded man dealing with the demons of a past relationship while trying to move forward. In “Recklessly,” his voice emanates the hope of the unknown. He pleads you to “hold onto him” and escape with such conviction that you trust him and feel like together you can conquer the impossible.

Mari takes the lead vocal on the majority of the songs. Her angelic voice brims with hopeful innocence, despite her lyrics showing maturity beyond her years. Not only is the very talented Mari a wicked girl drummer, but she also has a boho-chic sense of style all her own. It is a style that I wouldn’t be surprised to see many of her younger female fans trying to emulate.

While Matt takes more of a background role in the vocal department, he is the most diverse instrumentalist. His piano on “Summer Rain” is beautiful and I would argue his work on the B-3 organ in “Recklessly” and “It’s Over Again” can stand up to that of Benmont Tench from Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. On “Incomplete (Heartbreaker),” Matt does double-duty on piano and B-3, both of which sound effortlessly perfect.