Having both Ryan Adams and Jesse Malin praise your debut album as being “some of the best country rock music they’ve ever heard” is sure to be a big ego boost. But with an added bonus of co-writing a song with Mr Adams, its the stuff dreams are made of – certainly round my house anyway. The classic country undertones contained within the said track Thorns On Every Rose mix together with power pop hooks which set the tone perfectly for the Scottish bands second long player. The track displays a fantastic musicanship within the band. Chugging guitar, lilting pedal steel and a killer melody compliment each other in the mix perfectly. The good news is that its not even close to being the best thing on the album. That title goes to Dear Jane. A masterclass in how to write a country song thats both touching, thought provoking and most of all uplifting. The tender harmonies over the chorus “Dear Jane, you shouldn’t blame yourself” are simply lovely. Like Richmond Fontaine these guys really know how to make good use of pedal steel in their arrangements and Dear Jane is a perfect example of this.

So the first couple of songs have set the bar pretty high, and unfortunately for a short time the momentum is lost slightly with Irish Angel and Star Of The Silver Screen. Pleasant enough they may be but can’t help veer more to middle of the road territory. Luckily Questions and Answers is a return to form which sees singer Niall Holmes doubting a new relationship “is the boxer in the wrong ring / punching above his weight”, not before reassuring himself “has the poor boy hit the jackpot? / contented evermore”. Its gentle pace slowly builds its way up to a chorus that should find daytime Radio 2 programmers wetting themselves with excitement. So Last Night takes the blueprint of Dreamer In My Dreams by Wilco and shifts it up a notch into a Faces-esque romp. But not without giving a nod to Wilco with the line “the passion fades in the morning light / when you’re Outtasite Outtamind“. Already a live favourite and down right great fun.

It would be impossible to write about the Endrick Brothers without mentioning the bands influences. They are all over the record; Neil Young and The Band through to The Jayhawks and Wilco, all of the Americana heavyweights are here. The winning formula here though is achieved by combining their love of country with the pop sensibilities of Teenage Fanclub and Big Star. A feat also achieved by fellow Scots The Hazey Janes with last years debut Hotel Radio. There is no pretense on display within this collection of songs. No cool rock star posturing. Just honest, mature and downright charming craftsmanship that can proudly stand tall against any other current Alt. Country album around in 2007. A triumph.
80%

Downloads
Endrick Brothers – Dear Jane [download mp3 ♫]
Endrick Brothers – Questions and Answers [download mp3 ♫]

Links
Endrick Brothers [official site] [myspace]