Middle Brother

About

Middle Brother is a side project made up of three frontmen: Deer Tick’s John McCauley, Delta Spirit’s Matthew Vasquez, and Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes. Filled with songs about drinking, hangovers, and heartache the album has the kind of ragged folk-rock charm found in their respective bands. Yet it’s the collective vulnerability and introspection that makes the strongest impression and makes the album sound like a refuge from the pressures of their regular gigs, allowing each of them to express themselves while being backed by sympathetic friends. Considering that each member has a distinct voice and songwriting style, and that they only collaborate on one track, the album is surprisingly cohesive. The members contribute several songs each and take turns singing lead on a mix roughly split between scruffy country rockers (“Middle Brother,” Me, Me, Me”) and heart-on-the-sleeve ballads of which McCauley’s “Daydreaming,” Vasquez’s “Theater,” and Goldsmith’s “Blood and Guts” are standouts. They also do a fitting cover of the Replacements B-side “Portland,” and trade verses and harmonies on the closer “Million Dollar Bill.”

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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