The Brett Rosenberg Problem

Taking cues from the austere songwriting of the "angry young men" like Joe Jackson and Graham Parker, Boston's Brett Rosenberg Problem cultivated attention not only from fellow Boston rockers like the Gravel Pit, but also from the press and a national power pop audience following their 2001 debut. Lead vocalist/guitarist Brett Rosenberg moved to Boston from Northern New York in 2000, writing and playing songs in subway stations and clubs. Later that year, bassist Geoff Van Duyne and drummer Jason Sloan followed him to the city, forming the Brett Rosenberg Problem. At the time the band came together, Rosenberg was a mere 21 years old, even though his style was indebted to acts equally as old. That contrast helped the band's sound stand as a sharp relief to standard college rock, sounding more like the aggressive power pop of the late '70s and early '80s than the collegiate acoustic pop of the moment. They released their debut album, Pop Riot!, in 2001 to very favorable reviews in the local media before rushing back into the studio to record their sophomore record. Within a year, the band rolled out their second batch of short, raw, and fast songs about girls, Destroyer. 2004 saw the release of Shocktwins, a 16 song demo recorded by Rosenberg at home on his four-track. ~ Jason Damas, All Music Guide