The Bacon Brothers – Ballad of the Brothers
Let’s start by forgetting one member of this duo is an accomplished actor & the other is an Emmy-award-winning composer. Many creative people have tried to straddle 2 artistic endeavors hoping their names alone will carry them over. This isn’t one. Track 1 is a burner.
Despite its mainstream title “Take Off This Tattoo,” the arrangement, performance & persuasive showcase nails it. It’s not a novelty tune, not some catchy toss-off commercial pop tune. It has levity & comes off with a tasty run-through — tougher than expected.
There are 11 rootsy sensible songs to Ballad of the Brothers (Drops April 19/Forosoco Music/Forty Below Records 47:00) with diversified pickings & well-colored melodies. The majority were produced by Kevin & Michael Bacon along with production work by Travis Bacon & Joe Nicolo. Each tune shines even though some are more mainstream than others. “Put Your Hand Up,” has clarity & funky profusions that should instantly perk up the ears of any soul band or artist. This is fine stuff.
The tunes have a cool reserve. All performed with gusto. The band is as tight as a knot in a string. This is The Bacon Brothers 12th with decisive storytelling — no cast-offs or filler. The brothers exhibit skill & instinct as they tug on a silken line. Too popish? Too easy listening? No. The melodies are poignant, words are carefully chosen & comparisons would only come with such duos as Lowen & Navarro (“Cry”) who they cover here (“We Belong”).
The Bacon’s have Everly Brothers late-career absorbing “Roots” LP intensity (“Lord of the Manor,” “Milk Train,” “I Wonder If I Care As Much”). As a duo, they strike a nice balance vocally & while some tunes are commercial the whole project emerges with an expressive sweep. They assert themselves through every composition. They display many formidable moments — the jazzy “Freestanding” is an example.
“Airport Bar,” from the opening notes is “Beatlesque” with its strings. It’s laid on heavily while their voices glide easily & freely with a smoky harmonica strung between acoustic guitars & noir piano. Exceptional simplicity. A group called Bourgeois-Tagg (1988) had a moment like this with their “I Don’t Mind At All.”
Highlights – “Take Off This Tattoo,” “Losing the Night,” “Put Your Hand Up,” “We Belong,” “Airport Bar,” “Ballad of the Brothers (The Willie Door),” “Freestanding” & “Living With the Lie.”
Musicians –Michael Bacon (guitar/vocals/cello/autoharp/organ/piano/motormouth/keys), Travis Bacon (guitars/bass/programming), Kevin Bacon (guitar/vocal/mandolin/programming/harmonica/percussion) with Otis Sedgwick (lead guitar on “Old Bronco”), Tim Quick (guitar/dobro), Paul Guzzone (bass/electric bass/vocals), Mitch Beer (bass), Bernard Resnick (contrabass), Brian Fitzgerald (violin), Gil Sharone, Frank Vilardi & Andy Meyer (drums/percussion), Steve Jankowski (trumpets), Jay Davidson (saxes), Joe Mennonna (piano/organ/sax/vocals), Cindy Alexander & Kyra Sedgwick (vocals), Miss Betty (ambiance) & Sara Sant’Ambrogio (cello).
Cover image by Leslie Berg. CD @ Target + https://www.baconbros.colortestmerch.com/products/ballad-of-the-brothers-cd
Enjoy our interview here: Interview: The Bacon Brothers on their New Album, Bernie Williams, and Growing Up Artistic
Got my cd in the mail 2 days ago….absolutely love it! Great selections, great storytelling.