Published on May 28, 2013
A clever band name that is rooted in truth, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister finds siblings Rob and Rachel Kolar trading off vocal duties here (Rob also plays guitar and Rachel helps out with percussion); the rest of the band contribute slide guitars, an upright bass, and drumming from Lauren Brown, who is tagged a “tap dancing drummer” (more on that later). With an acting and theater background in tow, the band has parlayed those ideas into an almost vaudeville-like version of a garage rock band. Nobody Dances In This Town is the sort of disc that would give Edward Sharp And The Magnetic Zeros a run for their money.
“Tales That I Tell” starts things off with Rachel's smoky voice and an upbeat, rockabilly feel. This goes right into “Let It Live Free,” which sounds like a song that Tim Kasher co-wrote and sang on (Cursive, The Good Life). One of the best tunes here, it has that “Saddle Creek,” jangly indie sound that we all love so much. “The Same Old Ground” highlights how well both Kolars' voices work together; it’s a fuller sounding track that is very much aligned with the current trend of alt-country, though it's executed so much better than their peers’ versions. “Clackin' Heels” brings their theater roots to the forefront and allows the tap dancing drummer to take the spotlight with an audible tap dance solo. The band take plenty of nods to the '60s and '70s throughout the disc, with no lack of influence from psyche-rock, doo-wop, and folk music, most notably on the protest song sounding “Slow It Down.”
Self-described as “glam-a-billy” and “vaudeville blues,” the band also offers some blues and Americana twang in their warm, rustic version of retro garage rock. This is an easygoing listen that guarantees a good time. HMBSMS has delivered a splendid album here, with good hygiene intact, too (see cover art).
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