Published on Jun 11, 2004
For more than ten years, Ken Rockwood and Danielle Brancaccio
have created chill-out folk music under the name Professor and
Maryann. Yes, it’s hard not to think of Gilligan, even though
listening to the first few chords of “Bible and a Gun” put to rest
any sense that this is a novelty band. This is not “A Mighty Wind”
type of folk, folks.
The duo’s latest release,
Runaway Favorite, is lush, expertly crafted and full of
smart, intelligent lyrics. And as a result, it’s probably not the
album that will break them into the mainstream. No matter, this is
still a worthy purchase, even for non-folk lovers.
It’s impossible for music geeks to talk about other aspects of
an album without overly obsessing over the vocals of a strong
female vocalist, and Danielle Brancaccio is no exception. Her
deceptively warbly voice brings comparison to Marianne Faithfull or
Michelle Shocked. The weakest tracks on
Runaway Favorite, such as “World of Clowns,” are the ones
that do not showcase her vocal range.
That’s not to say that Brancaccio carries Professor and Maryann.
Ken Rockwood’s guitar work is solid throughout
Runaway Favorite. Kudos also go to drummer Paul Devito, who
provides a solid backbone and muscle throughout this disc. The
inclusion of cello and violin give the album a sound that brings
comparisons to Jon Brion’s arrangements on Aimee Mann’s best
efforts and the soundtrack to
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Occasionally, Professor and Maryann stumble upon typical coffee
house-type clichés. “Wish Symphony” is overly cheesy and the
duo has way too much talent to come up with a chorus like “Your
Love is like a chariot/let’s run” on the song “Chariot.” Still,
when the duo takes artistic risks, they usually pay off, such as in
the closing song, “Ten Tubas.”
This disc may take a few listens to fully sink in, but Rockwood
and Brancaccio give you reason to keep returning. If you like your
music filled with melancholy,
Runaway Favorite is a worthy purchase. “On such a dreary day
/ When love has strayed / And all of the taxies are taken / I’ll
grab my coat,” Brancaccio sings on “Roof of the World.” It’s scenes
such as this that would even make Belle and Sebastian crack a wry
grin.