Album Review: "I'll Stand In My Way" by Brooklyn – A Raw Indonesian Alt-Rock Gem
If you’re into music that feels like a punch to the gut but also warms your soul, I’ll Stand In My Way by Brooklyn is worth diving into. Released back in 2008 under Murval’s Records, this alternative rock album from Indonesia doesn’t try too hard to be perfect—and honestly? That’s what makes it stick. It’s raw, emotional, and packed with moments that hit different depending on where you’re at in life.
Let me start with the title track, “I’ll Stand In My Way.” Man, this one grabs you right away. Arif P-yex Kumiawan’s vocals are raspy yet full of heart, like he’s spilling his guts out over something personal. The lyrics (shoutout to Arif Piyek for penning them) feel like they’re written late at night when all the walls come down. Paired with Iid B-Rux Hariyanto’s guitar riffs that just scream frustration-meets-hope, it’s impossible not to connect. When Fahmi C-mex Hasan’s drums kick in halfway through, it’s like someone flipped a switch—you can almost see yourself standing up after being knocked down, ready to face whatever comes next. This song stays with you because it’s messy, real, and unapologetically human.
Then there’s “Alienated,” which hits differently every time I listen. Widi’s keyboard work here adds this haunting layer, making it feel like you're floating between worlds. Lyrically, it nails that feeling of being lost in your own head, stuck between who you are and who people want you to be. Daniel G-mux Setiawan’s basslines keep things grounded though—like a lifeline pulling you back when you’re about to drift off completely. There’s something cathartic about how the whole band comes together in this track; it’s chaotic but controlled, loud but intimate. Like therapy without the therapist.
What really stands out about this record is how organic everything sounds. You can tell these guys weren’t chasing trends—they were just doing their thing. Credit goes to Ady Ubant and Iit Berux for mixing it so well; nothing feels overproduced or forced. And props to Brooklyn themselves for arranging an album that lets each member shine without overshadowing the collective vibe. Even little details, like the subtle crackle of the recording, give it character—it’s imperfectly perfect, ya know?
Reflecting on I’ll Stand In My Way, it strikes me how rare albums like this are nowadays. In a world obsessed with polished playlists and TikTok hits, this feels like a relic from another era—an honest snapshot of five dudes pouring their hearts out in a studio somewhere in Indonesia. It reminds me that sometimes, the best art isn’t made to impress—it’s made to survive.
Oh, and fun fact: listening to this album feels like finding an old mixtape in the bottom of a drawer. Except instead of wondering who gave it to you, you’re left wondering why more people don’t talk about it. Maybe it’s time we changed that.
