Jersey Beat reviews Chris Broach/The 1984 Draft split

“Poptek and new label Sweet Cheetah are teaming up on this new split lathe-cut 7-inch record. One side features Chris Broach, known for his work in Braid, SNST, The Firebird Band and more. It offers us ‘Blood Thicker Than Honey,’ a track that blends cool bouncy indie pop with a grunge guitar tone, with distorted guitar and bass that, nevertheless, sparkle and shine. Vocals are shouted and sung with equal measures of joy and alarm. It’s a compelling song that leaves me wanting more. The 1984 Draft’s side is ‘Holiday Inn,’ and was written by front man Joe Anderl on an airplane after the loss of a friend to cancer. I’ve long been a fan of the band’s brand of indie rock, which focuses on story telling. ‘Holiday Inn’ is softer and smoother in its execution than most of the band’s output, with a dreamier and more melancholy sound. It’s solid indie rock with a tough message about the inevitability of death, and a line that likens Heaven with a hotel and says the God ‘has reservations for all of us.’ The two tracks couldn’t be more different, but as Anderl says, ‘When I heard about Chris’ own recent cancer battle, pairing the songs made a lot of sense.’ Though they sound so different, they’re both great songs.” - Paul Silver