Down With My Ship
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
The Los Angeles outfit Brother Earl & The Cousins make their debut here, where Earl is joined by Devon Geyer, Tim Hutton, Burleigh Drummond, T.D. Lind, Jonathan Sheldon and Ben Peeler across 5 Laurel Canyon friendly tunes that stem from their unique version of Americana.
“Woman (Lover, Lover)” gets the listen off to a very warm start with Cousins’ smooth pipes alongside Peeler’s pedal steel and Drummond’s strong drumming that complements the rural melodies, and “Prodigal Son” follows with a calmer pace of moody mandolin from Peeler and with Hutton’s well timed bass contributing to the rugged yet tuneful climate.
“Fishin’” occupies the middle spot, and brings a ballad about, well, fishing, that flows with power and emotion, while “Down With My Ship” bounces playfully amid Lind’s strategic keys and an alt-country spirit that will get you searching for your dancing shoes. “Gonna Live Another Day” finishes the listen with a humorous and quirky folk song that displays Geyer’s banjo prowess, and closes out the affair with a playful and memorable demeanor.
Brother Earl wrote all the tunes here, and each one is packed with hooks, grit, and, of course, plenty of nods to their California home, effectively making a perfect introduction to an outfit that all fans of folk, country, bluegrass and roots music should be familiar with.
Travels well with: Joe Troop- Borrowed Time; Wild Earp And The Free For Alls- Dyin’ For Easy Livin’