The Brother Brothers: "Cover To Cover" (2022) CD Review

There have been many groups led by singing siblings, from The Everly Brothers to The Nields, and a much smaller number led by twins (The Bee Gees and Tegan And Sara jump to mind). Twins Adam Moss and David Moss, the duo known as The Brother Brothers, began studying music at an early age, and their passion did not diminish as they got older. Both attained degrees in music from the University of Illinois. As The Brother Brothers, they released their first full-length album, Some People I Know, in 2018, and followed that with Calla Lily in 2021. While those two albums featured original material, their third album, Cover To Cover, found them covering the work of influential songwriters, such as James Taylor and Tom Waits. Adam Moss plays fiddle and keys. David Moss plays cello and guitar. They are joined by Jeff Picker on bass, and Matty Meyer on drums, along with guests on various tracks.

The album opens with a sweet rendition of Tom T. Hall's "That's How I Got To Memphis," and, yes, right away what is remarkable is the appealing vocal work. This is a song that has been covered a lot over the years, and what's interesting to me is that many people know Tom T. Hall's material without knowing his name. "Thank you for your precious time/Forgive me if I start to cry/That's how I got to Memphis." That's followed by "These Days," another song that people seem to know without knowing who wrote it. I remember being surprised not so much that it was Jackson Browne who wrote it, but that he was a teenager when he wrote it. Apparently he was sixteen. Most adults can't write songs that are this good. It's been recorded by many artists, probably most famously by Nico. That version can be heard in the Wes Anderson film The Royal Tenenbaums. The Brother Brothers deliver a wonderful rendition, at times sounding very much like Simon & Garfunkel. Jeff Picker plays acoustic lead guitar on this one, as well as bass. On an album with such outstanding vocal work, it might be difficult for any of the instruments to make as much of an impact, but the guitar work on this track does stand out.

Ryan Scott then joins The Brother Brothers on electric guitar for the cover of James Taylor's "You Can Close Your Eyes," and singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz joins them on backing vocals. "But this whole world must still be spinning round/And I still love you/So close your eye/You can close your eyes, it's all right." Those lines speak strongly in these dark and ugly times when we need reminders to focus on the important things in our own lives, when we need to hear a friendly voice tell us things are all right. And the delivery is gentle, soothing, warm. Yet there is a sadness heard in a line like "You can sing this song when I'm gone." Then there is more of a country rock vibe to "If You Ain't Got Love," featuring more good work by Ryan Scott on electric guitar. Plus, this track contains some nice stuff on keys. "You can be the biggest playboy around/But you're nothing when the lights go down/If you ain't got love." Just remember that. Those fascists have no love; they are nothing. This song was written by Chas Justus and originally recorded by The Revelers, who included it on their 2012 self-titled album.

The Brother Brothers deliver a really nice rendition of "There's A Rugged Road," a song written and originally recorded by Judee Sill, who included it on her 1973 album Heart Food.  As with the other tracks, this song features some beautiful vocal work. Their version retains something of that 1970s vibe. Ryan Scott plays organ on this one. I also like that work on drums. That's followed by an interesting and cool rendition of The Beatles' "I Will." There is a good deal of cheer to their performance. I always forget how short this song is. Then they give us a gorgeous and striking a cappella rendition of "I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)," with Rachael Price and Emily Price (another set of singing siblings) joining them on vocals. "What a fool am I/To think my breaking heart/Could kid the moon/What's in store/Should I phone once more?" That's followed by another of the disc's highlights, "Feelin' Good Again," which has a pleasant folk and bluegrass vibe, and features, yes, more excellent vocal work. This is such a good song, written by Robert Earl Keen. If you're in need of something to make you feel good (and who isn't?), this might just do the trick. "But I reached in my pocket/Found three twenties and a ten/It feels so good feelin' good again." Alison Brown plays banjo on this one, delivering some wonderful stuff. There is also some nice work on fiddle.

Richard Thompson is a phenomenal songwriter, and on this album The Brother Brothers choose to cover his "Waltzing's For Dreamers," a song from Thompson's 1988 album Amnesia. "And I know you don't know me/But can we pretend/That we care for each other/'Til the band reach the end." This is a beautiful and sad song, and The Brother Brothers deliver a wonderful rendition. Michael Rinne plays bass on this track, as well as on "High Sierra," which follows. Michaela Anne joins The Brother Brothers on vocals for "High Sierra," a song written by Harley Allen and recorded by Linda Ronstadt (David Grisman plays mandolin on that Ronstadt recording). "And I've been right, mostly wrong/Wrong about you, right about me/And I've been cursed and I've been praised/And I've been nothing these days." I love that work on strings in the second half. That's followed by "Blue Virginia Blues," a totally enjoyable bluegrass number, with Alison Brown again joining them on banjo and delivering some really good work. The Brother Brothers wrap up the album with "Flower's Grave," written by Tom Waits. Their rendition sounds like a beautiful, haunting lullaby, and features some wonderful stuff on cello. No guests join them on this one. This is another of the album's highlights, and an excellent way to conclude things. "And if we are to die tonight/Is there moonlight up ahead?/And if we are to die tonight/Another rose will bloom."

CD Track List

1. That's How I Got To Memphis
2. These Days
3. You Can Close Your Eyes
4. If You Ain't Got Love
5. There's A Rugged Road
6. I Will
7. I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)
8. Feelin' Good Again
9. Waltzing's For Dreamers
10. High Sierra
11. Blue Virginia Blues
12. Flower's Grave

Cover To Cover was released on August 4, 2022, and is available on blue vinyl as well as CD.