Undercover

Item: Branded
Author: Ronnie Martin

Branded

(1986)

Reviewed by Ronnie Martin

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Label Broken RecordsHM Magazine #114July/August 2005

hard rock new wave post-punk

There really was only one music ‘scene’ in the mid-80’s for everyone who didn’t own the complete Petra, Mylon LeFevre or Whiteheart back catalog, and it happened to exist in Orange County, California. Before Nashville finally found a way to market middle class hillbillies with $100 vintage t’s and perfectly sculpted shag cuts, “the O.C.” was the first and last stop for anything resembling something you might be able to show your friends without resorting to pleading, bribes and insurance policies. Nevertheless, 1986 was undoubtedly the beginning of the golden age of historic Chrindie rock.

The bands of the golden era could be counted on two hands: Common Bond, The Altar Boys, 441, Crumbacher, Daniel Amos, The Choir, Adam Again, Lifesavers, MATW....and the list barely goes on much further than this. The innocence of the early scene was awe-inspiring. There was a camaraderie that rivaled all the great music scenes you had read about in years past from London to New York and back again. Only this one happened in the most unlikely of places: the church.

A full year before LSU would eventually release their historic post punk opus Shaded Pain, Undercover released Branded. It only took one record for Joey Taylor to get all the misery in the world off his chest, and he did it with a record so beautifully melancholy and wonderfully written that it would be impossible for him to ever reach those exquisite depths again. Darkest hour, indeed.