Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler, brent ii | Album Review 💿

Pop artists Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler are truly a ‘dynamic duo’ on their second collaborative EP, brent ii.

Sometimes, a collaboration goes so well the first time that you need to collaborate again. 🎙 Jeremy Zucker and 🎙Chelsea Cutler have collaborated together in numerous instances; they just work well incredibly well together.  The most notable collaboration, of course, is their 💿 brent EP from 2019.  Once more, this ‘dynamic duo’ has come together to drop the sequel, 💿 brent ii.  All of 17 minutes in duration, it’s 17 minutes of your time that you definitely won’t regret.  Zucker and Cutler gives us three duets first, followed by solo tracks by Zucker and Cutler respectively.  Lots to like about brent ii, so, let’s dive right into this!

“this is how you fall in love” 

“This is how you fall in love / Let go and I’ll hold you up / So, pull me tight and close your eyes / Oh, my love, side to side.” Perfection to the nth degree! On 🎵 ✅ “this is how you fall in love”, Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler deliver a radiant song all about L-O-V-E.  The chemistry between the two is superb, while separately, they sound pretty sweet on the sub-three-minute opener from brent ii. Zucker delivers a gorgeous vocal performance with an impeccable tone; He sings authentically, expressively, in nuanced, tender fashion. One of his best moments is incredibly subtle, when he sings “Oh” on the pre-chorus (it recurs post-second verse). The same praise can be bestowed upon Cutler on the second verse.  She has an expanded sound palette accompanying her, including layered vocals.  Her second verse serves as the transition to loftier heights. Even so, the Zucker/Cutler ‘duet section’ brings things back down. “This is how you fall in love” possesses both a degree of simplicity as well as a degree of utter satisfaction.

“parent song” 

“This is how you fall in love” is a tough act to follow – understatement.  Nonetheless, the duo doesn’t merely take their victory lap on the aforementioned juggernaut.  The chemistry continues strongly on 🎵 “parent song,” where Chelsea Cutler initiates the vocals.  Jeremy Zucker arrives on the pre-chorus, continuing onto the chorus.  As always, the vocals are beautiful and pure – never over-sung or the least bit overwrought.  Subtlety works quite well for both these musicians generally, and that continues to be the case here. On the second iteration of the memorable chorus, Cutler joins Zucker creating a truly lovely aesthetic.  Beyond that, there’s a sweet bridge section, a Cutler starts the chorus in ‘stripped’ fashion before putting it all together for a grand closing.

One final duet graces the joint EP in ✅ 🎵 “emily.” On their respective verses, Jeremy and Chelsea take the lead initially, before the other joins, solidifying the collaborative, duet experience.  Like “this is how you fall in love” and “parent song” preceding it, the vocals are #winning, playing to both artist’s strengths.  One of the more fascinating sections of “emily” is the chorus, where the guitar is more rhythmic and even Zucker digs in more than usual.  As always, the songwriting stands out.

“So, I’ll promise you I’ll be the best thing for us
Then I’ll fight with your friends and I’ll trash your apartment
I’ll lie to you screaming, ‘I’d die for you’...” 

Solo Cuts 

Following three duets, Jeremy and Chelsea each drop their own solo tracks to conclude brent ii.  Zucker takes first blood with ✅ 🎵 “Brooklyn boy,” easily among the top-three songs from the EP.  For much of the song, we hear Zucker singing with great subtlety and showing incredible vulnerability.  The lyrics are quite emotional and thoughtfully penned, particularly given the ‘pandemic state of mind’ that has bogged the world down.  The final chorus is terrific:

“You’ll be my savior, I’ll be your Brooklyn boy
Keep me from danger, ‘til I go overboard
I haven’t left my house in months
I’ll be your angel, you’ll be my flower girl
When it gets painful, I’ll take all I can endure
Fuck arе we fighting for? The year’s alrеady gone.”

Beyond the chorus, there’s a surprising outro, which features more electronic production touches and vocals effects that we don’t normally associated with Zucker.  He’s also quite overt which is a welcome change of pace by all means.  Cutler concludes brent ii solidly as well with 🎵 “the stars.” Her voice continues to be quite angelic – calming and pure.  The record is warm and ear catching, with the use of mellow trumpet adding a unique tone color.  Even though “the stars” is more subtle overall, it does pick up steam beginning with the second verse, growing more dynamic overall.

Final Thoughts 💭

Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler – dynamic duo! Brent ii is an enjoyable, well-rounded EP by all means.  When they duet, the chemistry is amazing.  When they perform a soloists both bring plenty of goodness to the table. Brent ii may not change the world or the face of pop for that matter, but it’s a welcome addition to the listening rotation.  More folks need to be talking about both these talented individuals.

✅ Gems 💎: “this is how you fall in love,” “emily” & “Brooklyn boy”

🎙 Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler • 💿 brent ii • 🏷 Republic • 🗓 2.5.21

[📷: Republic]