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Go Triad! Review December 2003
TRUE
BROTHERS “Hymns
and Other Songs We Wrote Ourselves” TRUE
BROTHERS “Hymns and Other Songs We Wrote Ourselves” Thunderbolt Records / True Brothers Records *** There’s a rather telling picture on the back cover of the CD booklet. It’s simply Roger and Jacky, resplendent in white country suits, walking away from us toward who knows where, guitar cases in tow. It’s an interesting mystery of a picture. In fact, the brothers True from Greensboro are an odd question mark. Since 1998, these two have produced and released CDs simply brimming with traditional country music that is as far away from pop country radio as it will ever get. This time out, the two have written – yes, written – a collection of songs that really say library’s worth about dedication and sincerity. The subject matter can get rather preachy, and there are spots of recitation that are kind of goofy, but on the whole there are some catchy tracks and some downright clever lyricism. This CD isn’t for everyone, but you simply can’t dismiss the Trues. Seven of the tracks have been released on prior recordings, but the other nine tracks are new. Like “Gold,” their last release, the brothers are aided musically by The Countrymen, a first-rate backup band. Mitch Snow adds his talents as well. Highlights? Some literary nods: Track 13 is a Cashlike toetapper about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde called “Jekyll Ol’ Jekyll”; and Track 3 is all about the classic tale “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” The Trues pay homage to their late dad with “At the Side of That Old Tree,” and “A Christmas Wish” is a heart-tugger. Allison King Go Triad December 4, 2003
Country Music People Review March 2004
THE TRUE BROTHERS Hymns
And Other Songs We Wrote
Ourselves Introducttion
By The True Brothers / There's A Gate / The Picture Of Dorian Gray / Let My
Children Go / Missing You - Hats Off To Webb / I'm Living For The Master / We Do
It For You / Six Steps To Heaven / It Wouldn't Be The Same / To The
Altar I Will Go / That Banjo Picking Mama Of Mine / Who Am I To Question Thee /
Jekyll Ol' Jekyll / At The Side Of That Old Tree (Papa's Song) / Jesus Has His
Eyes On You / A Christmas Wish Producers: The True Brothers / Bobby Atkins / Teresa True & Dick Minor Thunderbolt Records TB 74489 (42:42) *** Yes,
they're back! Roger and Jacky, the
amazing True Brothers. Regular
readers will know how hooked I am on these guys.
They are just so . . . so . . . unbelievably country. Who
else would kick off an album with "Howdy, friends, we're the True
Brothers," and then go on to explain what the album's all about:
"Now, Jacky and I have never done an album like this before but,
by cracky, we hope everybody enjoys our efforts at entertaining you with this
new album of hymns and other songs we wrote OURSELVES!" Well,
by Jiminy, they've come up with their best album thus far, a collection of
mostly self-written hymns and secular items that take us right to the
heart of country music. On the
gospel side, There's A Gate and Let My Children Go, with backing
from Bobby Atkins and his Countrymen, are super, while, considering their
obvious vocal limitations, they even make a fair fist of the a capella Jesus
Has His Eyes On You. Their
vocal deficiency reaches its zenith on the old Webb Pierce hit, Missing You,
(ouch!) but it's relieved by a mid-song recitation in tribute to the honky tonk
king - and I fell on the floor as the background chorus came in. The
winsome We Do It For You, another tribute, this time to the fans, is
marked with sincerity, as is the image of a departed father in At The Side Of
That Old Tree. There's a jolly Banjo
Picking Mama Of Mine, again with Bobby Atkins, but the surprise entries -
demonstrating the brothers' literary side - are The Picture Of Dorian Gray
and Jekyll Ol' Jekyll. The
Trues précis Oscar Wilde's Gothic melodrama as a warning against evil ways,
while they give a boom-chicka-boom reading to Stevenson's mad doctor of London
town. Half
these tracks are previously release so, if not exactly a Greatest Hits,
it's certainly a Best Of. However,
take heed, the True Brothers are not for everyone.
I expect even a ProTools engineer would admit defeat, so if you're after
perfect pitch, look elsewhere. On
the other hand, you, too, could be won over by their country innocence and
charm. Their booklet photos are a
priceless bonus. Have
you joined the True Brothers fan club yet?
It's almost worth the hassle of US immigration to go see these guys on
home turf . . . (www.honkytonkin.com) Craig Baguley Country Music People
Hip Pocket Review May 2004
THE
TRUE BROTHERS "Hymns
and Other Songs We Wrote
Ourselves" The
True Brothers "Hymns
and Other Songs We Wrote
Ourselves Thunder
Bolt Records ** The True Brothers are from Greensboro and have been making music for over a dacade. They mix bluegrass music with lyrics about religion. If that is a good paring for you. I highly recommentd this release. Me, I like Bluegrass, in small doses. And the religion content is not to my favor. To quote some other Brothers, "Jesus is just alright with me" but as far as my religion / music mix. I want Billy Gibbon's telling me about Jesus leaving Chicago for New Orleans. As the opening introduction by Roger & Jacky will tell you, this is an album of 14 songs. All original songs, some are new, and others have previously been released. My favorite thing about the album is the bonus song, a Christmas song titled "A Christmas Wish". I believe that every band should have a Xmas Song, and it should be the bonus track! Because that's what it is . . . |
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Last modified: June 25, 2004 |
