Little Brothers (Train Wreck, 2016)
Chip Taylor
Reviewed by Lee Zimmerman
Taylor expresses sentiments with sad, sparse arrangements that leave little variation in tone or treatment. A surprisingly tuneful whistle on "Live To Strike Again" (from "I'll Carry You") and the tender and touching "Refugee Children" (from "Little Brothers") aside, there's little to elevate any one track from the generally forlorn sound that finds each of these songs all but indistinguishable from one another.
That's not to say these two albums aren't engaging, despite their tired tones. In fact, these winsome ballads are consistently emotional and affecting, with songs such as "I'll Carry For You" off the album of the same name, and the "Little Brother" entry "St. Joan" as beautiful as anything Taylor's ever written. Obviously, Taylor's ties to his siblings remain as strong as ever, and that becomes increasingly clear with each of these interludes. Still, one might have wished for a bit more variation to stave off the tendency to drift off or worse, even doze off along the way. It's a danger that becomes increasingly tempting the longer one listens. Much like indulging a friend who insists on showing you his scrapbook of family photos, the interest and enthusiasm lasts only so long.
CDs by Chip Taylor







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