Oh Brother

by Dawes

Overview

Stripped down to the duo of lead-singer/guitarist Taylor Goldsmith and his brother drummer Griffin Goldsmith, Dawes deliver a tightly performed, cleverly-written ninth album, 2024's Oh Brother. Dawes have endured line-up changes since the beginning of their career, amicably parting ways with founding member Blake Mills when they were just picking up steam. And although Taylor's songwriting was always the band's signature, it was unclear how the departure of longtime bassist Wylie Gelber and keyboardist Lee Pardini in 2023 would affect their rootsy band vibe. Interestingly, rather than bring in replacement musicians, Dawes didn't rely on hired guns here, choosing instead to focus on just vocals, guitar and drums and record the songs as a duo live in-studio. While there is a spare, often demo-like rawness to the sound, it's a surprisingly robust and full-throated production. Primarily known as a singer and songwriter, Taylor further reveals himself as an enthusiastic guitarist, his wiry, tube amp sound evoking players like Robbie Robertson with a dash of Jack White. Similarly, Griffin displays his creativity as a drummer, making the most of a minimal snare and hi-hat groove on one song and then dragging his brushes over what sounds like a suitcase on another. This interplay is particularly evident on "Front Row Seat," a swaggering, Led Zeppelin-esque anthem about the troubled state of the world in which Taylor finds dark ironic comfort in the idea of being present as society falls apart. As his guitar bends serpentine shadows around his brother's bashing tin, he sings, "If it's true that it's a curse to live in interesting times/Then why do I get butterflies as I peek over the ledge?" Equally sardonic and cheeky sentiments pop up elsewhere on cuts like "Mister Los Angeles," "King of the Never-Wills," and "Strangers Sometimes," as Taylor conjures little vignettes about people at odds with their success, their romantic partners, and the pseudo-spiritually-minded, image-conscious society they've ascended to via a mix of luck and talent. Often, he displays his knack for picking out specific references to make his point, as in the Jimmy Buffett-esque "House Parties" where he bemoans his partner's more upscale taste, revealing that rather visit museums or go shopping he's more about "House parties and local bands/Good weed with some Joni fans/Old friends playing Mega Man/And a little Donkey Kong." If there's one thing that's evident while listening to the refreshing, back to basics craftsmanship Oh Brother, it's that the Goldsmith brothers clearly know what they and Dawes are all about. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	10/11/2024
Label:	Dead Ringers
UPC:	0617308081251
Rank:	1990

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dawes   Primary Artist