Brother Bill: Wild On The Whiskey

This review has been in the works for quite some time-- ever since I exchanged a crumpled $10 with a TA at my school for this album: a decidedly old-looking, should-be-on-vinyl, watermarked brown cover, with an out-of-place-looking parental advisory badge smirking in the lower right hand corner. Brother Bill...? Swear words? Weed and alcohol references aplenty? Don't mind if I do.

I had gotten a hold of another of Brother Bill's records previously-- a bunk live recording from the Kraftbrau (may it rest in peace)-- which I, frankly speaking, wasn't thrilled by. (Working at a music store did indeed have its spoils, local-band schwag among them.) While I do love a good live show-- even in a genre by which I'm not thrilled, i.e., country-- I don't typically connect with live albums, and this one in particular really just sounded like... how do I say this?... drunk hillbillies at a 21st century barn-raising.

But, Christ, how far Brother Bill has come. Like a dusted-off bottle of bathtub moonshine, Brother Bill has harnessed their spastic, epileptic-fit-of-five-bar-blues mania into something a little more polished, but still delightfully rough around the edges, in their impressively professional new release (out late '09), "Wild On The Whiskey."

Brother Bill, upping the tempo but clinging stubbornly to their country bootstraps, bash through all 13 tracks at breakneck speed with an in-your-face rockabilly that makes you want to drink fast, dance fast, get in a bar fight and get the hell out of there fast, drive fast (ideally not all in the same night)... putting on the breaks only slightly for their bluesy title track, the last on the record: a (relatively) gentle reprieve before you give it a second listen (or third... or fifth...). Their strongest songs are those playing up their mischievous (and oft felonious) shenanigans (like the anthemic opener, "Drink All Day"); they fall a little flat on the cliche country bullshit that dampens an otherwise balls-out progression of songs; for example the lackluster "16 Hours;" which contains such lyrical flatulence as "fishnet stockings and your hair done up right/ tell your old man you won't be home tonight."

And, I'm calling them out on the Lone Star State namedrops-- c'mon, fellas, country cop-outs? You're better than that (and... you're from Michigan). But the bottom line: this record isn't half bad. Aside from a couple sticky moments for a country un-enthusiast like myself, "Wild On The Whiskey" is well-rounded, intelligent in its own way, and a hell of a lot of fun. And while the album in its entirety probably won't make it into my permanent rotation, you can bet the farm (ha) that I'll be catching their next show.

Cute tagline: Lone-star? How 'bout 5-star? (Honestly: more of a 3.5 [are we doing half-stars?]) Brother Bill-- I hate country. But thanks for making a (semi) believer out of an indie snob.

But don't take my word for it (Levar Burton shoutout.) Check out their MySpace.

TVJ songpick: "Party Hardy Swing." [Usually what I like to do with a songpick is choose a lyric and let it speak for itself; let's go ahead and do that:] "Let's party hardy, rock n roll, drink a 6-pack and smoke a bowl." Having actually partied with at least one member of this band, I'll resist temptation to (actually) say "I wanna party with you guys!" But, if we learn one thing from this album, let it be this extra-special note to musicians; if you want free shots next time you play a show, write an entire album devoted your favorite poison. I know at least a few hick-rockers in town getting some free shots of Jack next time I see them.
-thejunkie