Jocelyn & Chris Arndt, The Fun In The Fight Review
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There is nothing more symbiotic than siblings, especially in music. The chemistry is unmatched and the connection between the musicians is on a deeper level. For brother-sister rockers Jocelyn & Chris Arndt, those ties are immediate in their music and love for each other. “He’s my best friend,” says Jocelyn. “Maybe that sounds a little cheesy, but it’s true. And to be able to chase this shared dream with my best friend, well, that’s everything.” That determined spirit is stronger than ever on The Fun in the Fight, Jocelyn & Chris’ third full-length duo album out on February 22nd, 2019. The title, a line of lyrics from the stomping, unapologetic “Kill in the Cure,” is also a reference to the idea that defined Jocelyn & Chris’s experience writing this record: “Things get hard, and it’s easy to lose sight of what you’re working toward. The best way to get through it is to find enjoyment in the struggle itself. You’ve got to find the fun in the fight.” Over the past 5 years, they’ve balanced hundreds of shows coast to coast with an aggressive recording schedule, all while completing studies at Harvard. With the release of The Fun in the Fight, it certainly is setting their trajectory of success.
Positives:
Jocelyn has a buoyant voice that has a crystalline clarity to convey the emotion of the lyric, aptly supported by brother Chris their sound is compelling and heartfelt.
Bottom Line:
Kicking off the album is “Witness,” a powerful homage to the essence of the band sound and its roots in rock n’ roll. “We owe so much to the artists who came before us,” says Jocelyn. “We’re inspired by them every day.” The album single “Outta My Head” explores the edge between attraction and obsession, a hook-oriented guitar line offsets the poignant lyrics with an intensifying orchestration. “We’ve all got something we can’t get out of our heads. It’s up to us whether or not that becomes a motivation or a problem, says Jocelyn. Contrastingly, “The Western” would be right at home in the soundtrack of a classic cowboy flick, complete with whip and whistle, are you listening Tarantino. “We started calling it ‘The Western’ before we had a real name for it, and then we could never seem to come up with a better name than that,” Chris laughs. The closer “The Weatherman,” offers an introspective 70s leaning ballad. What is most refreshing about this sibling duo is their approach to music is genuine, not akin to any trends, they are just about creating music that rocks and speaks to them musically. A most highly recommended listen if you enjoy originality. That's the short of it!