Despite the obvious classical influences (if not outright theft), calling the Brilliance "chamber" pop doesn't begin to explain things. A couple of other writers use the word "orchestral", but that's not much closer. More specifically, the Brilliance simply infuses as much as it can into deceptively simple melodies.

The Brilliance Suite No. 2 World Keeps Spinning: An Antidote to Modern Anxiety (self-released)

So there are jaunty pop bits, sweeping anthems and plenty of flights of classical fancy. About half the time, this album reminds me a lot of Sgt. Pepper's Side B. And then the other half really doesn't. There are too many modern references to tie the band down to a single idea or era.

I've been listening to this for a couple of weeks, because I just couldn't get my head around the ambition that had to go into making music this big. Or rather, this big and this small. The quiet moments are really quiet. The raucous moments are brain-shaking. The scope of sounds within the sound is almost unimaginable.

There is a reason why very few people attempt this: It usually doesn't work. Even the Flaming Lips (who never approached this level of sonic disparity) have been known to miss on occasion. The Brilliance hits the bullseye. If you're hooked at first listen and wonder if the rest of the album can keep up, the answer is yes. Sublime.

Jon Worley