When three cousins form a band, the results can generally be a mixed bag. Working with family can either make or break any project, at least based on my time around the extended family during the holiday season, so when a band pops up on the radar that is comprised solely of family members, I’m bound to take notice and do a deep dive on their discography.
Classic examples of family bands include The Osmonds, a majority of the original Beach Boys, and in more recent history, indie darlings Haim and hip-hop sensations Migos. Between even the four listed, there are mixed results, but the pressure cooker style of crafting art with people you’ve known your entire life can lead to some crucial breakthroughs. Chicago’s The Unswept is another addition to the family-band canon, comprised of cousins Charlie, Liz, and Ryan O’Brien, and their send-up to classic bubblegum pop and retro rock ’n’ roll is a signature style destined to help make a name for themselves.
Their latest album Fast Casual arrives with a new twist on their well-established ‘60s twee — there’s a little bit more country, a little bit more growth, and that same confidence they’ve kept through their entire discography, as they reignite the musical world once more. Songs like “You Keep Me Company” and “Suggestion” act as send-ups to the classic Beatles era, while “Got Lucky” pushes forward towards attaining a ‘70s charm with a vibrant pop anthem with a feminist theme as Liz takes lead vocals on.
“Forget That Day” sees The Unswept summoning their inner Edgar Winter Group with the guitar licks, and the rhythm section gives hints of CCR. Fast Casual is an album that boldly wears the trio’s influences on their sleeves, pant legs, and everywhere else, and the charm of each track tapping into a new era and style never ceases to get your toe tapping.
Overall, there’s a lot of digging to be done on the listener’s part if they want to discover where the exact influences for each song come from, but even without knowing direct pulls, there’s still a great deal of work that’ll grab even the most casual classic rock listeners and pull them into the world of The Unswept. It’s not every day an album appears and acts as a perfect send-up to the songs you grew up hearing, but when it does, you rarely forget it.
Fast Casual is a top-dollar album from a top-tier group, and anyone in the Chicago area should seek out their live shows. The best songs from the album that would translate well into a live setting include album closer and duet “Sometimes Always,” rip-roaring “Try To Forget You,” and sing-along-ready “We’re Gonna Split.” Fast Casual is just an album primed for a live setting, maybe even with classic rock track covers thrown in to enhance the experience, and there’s no doubt in my mind that these three cousins are going to pull it off with ease. The Unswept is on a roll — a rock ’n’ roll.
Chadwick Easton