DEADSTRING BROTHERS

Debbie: Alright, we're doing a review of the Deadstring Brothers' new, self-titled album. And what we're gonna do is, we're gonna talk about the album real quick here, while it's playing.
Claire: Yeah!
D: Oh, my friend Claire is here. She's a lot more sensitive and emo than me, so she'll probably love everything about this album that I hate.
C: Yeah!
D: Are you just gonna say "yeah" for the whole review?
C: Yeah! (laughs)
D: Alright. Well, we're five songs into the CD now, and it's actually not that bad. I'm digging this country tinge that it has. I love the steel pedal guitar sound they've got going on. I'd expect this to come from some dust bowl town, but these guys are from Detroit.
C: Really? Well, I guess that makes sense. I mean, country and folk ballads are just stories from the life of the "common man", ya know? I mean, even in modern cities, you've still got heartbreak and loss and joy and strife,.. all the makings for this kind of music. I don't think it matters where it's made. It's the experiences and the influences that lead to music like this.
D: Word. The press release says these guys were heavily influenced by blues and old country music, and you can totally hear it in their album. There's this overall mellow tone and simplicity to the songs that's totally reminiscent of that style.
C: Totally. I love the singing, too.
D: Eh, I'm not too keen on this guy's voice. Plus, on a few tracks, it sounds like he's channeling some third-generation Bob Dylan, nasally vocal technique.
C: I don't know about the Bob Dylan thing. I could hear it on, like, one track. But, for the most part, he's got his own sound. I think these vocals and the way the lead guy's voice comes together with the background singers' just fits the music. Like, this reminds me of that band out of Omaha, Mayday. Their songs are a lot like this,.. young, down-home country music. Very honest stories told over swaying guitar licks and rustling drum beats.
D: Yeah, I could see that. There's definitely something very genuine about it. Like, it's not as pretentious and emo-nancy as I thought it was gonna be.
C: Nope. It's very,.. melodic? That's a word, right?
D: Yeah. Melodic and calm,.. like Sunday afternoon music or something.
C: Yep. Lazy Sunday background music. Perfect to relax to. So yeah,.. think that's enough for the review?
D: Yeah. The album's over, anyway. That should be fine.
To find out more about Deadstring Brothers, visit timesbeachrecords.com.