The term “song of the summer” gets tossed around haphazardly these days, but Brother Bicker Band is truly delivering just that. With a mix of classic country rock and jazzy blues, their new album, “Another Kind of Train”, offers the kind of music that makes you want to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
“Another Kind of Train” offers a wide range of sounds for a variety of listeners. From easy-listening songs such as “Nashville Sound” and “Let Me Down”, to classic country rock like “Storm Chaser”, “Nothing at All”, and “The Breakup Song”, and emotional, heartfelt tracks like “Bottles” and a cover of classic Whiskey Myers song “Stone”, this album has something for everyone.
The cover of “Stone” features a full choir performance by the Calgary vocal ensemble Revv 52, adding to the original tune a rich, soulful background vocal track that beautifully amplifies the song’s gut-wrenching themes of redemption and heartbreak.
There are a few places where songs – and singers – stand out, the most prominent of which being Jennele Coulson on “Take My Gun”, the album’s tenth song. The song offers a distinct Femme Fatale vibe, with Coulson’s deep, resonant vocals sending chills down your spine as the song tells the story of “the emotional weight of past choices and the longing for a fresh start”, according to the band’s website. Coulson’s vocals can typically be heard in the background of other tracks, but she shines when given center stage. Another stand-out song is “Bottles”, the album’s twelfth and final song. One of the more emotional songs on the album, “Bottles” is one of those songs that hits you in the emotional gut before it even reaches the first chorus. The song details a relationship haunted by past miscommunications and unfulfilled dreams, using the metaphor of broken bottles to symbolize the subjects’ disintegrating relationship.
For music fans who may need a gentle entering into the country rock scene, “Another Kind of Train” and “Say What You Want to Say” offer listeners a swanky, laid-back sound to ease you into both Brother Bicker Band’s newest album and the summer season. “Another Kind of Train” tells the story of the endless search for something more out of life, leaving behind bad choices and looking forward to the chance at redemption. “Say What You Want to Say” explores the aftermath of loss and how a person’s passing affects the lives of those they leave behind.
Brother Bicker Band consists of seven friends, according to their website: Jennele Coulson (vocals), Jim Duncan (bass), Ben Ellard (keys and newcomers), Jeremy Hrdlicka (vocals and acoustic guitar), Taylor Miles (drums), Tom Mogan (guitar and vocals), and Claire Wilkes (vocals). The band describes their music as “Maple Whiskey Rock n Roll”, and that aura is obvious throughout each song. On their website, the band explains that this album has been in the works for five years’ worth of live shows and that dedication and time are obvious.
Written by Madeline A. S. Kilness