Search - Broken Family Band :: Cold Water Songs

1,2,3,4,5,Six Six Six!

kendall lopere | H-Town, Tx, USA | 11/28/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to say what the most bizarre thing about the Broken Family Band is. Perhaps it's the fact that they play such old time country music in 2003. Perhaps it's the fact they are so blatantly "for real" and "for yucks" at the same time. Most of all it's probably the fact they're from the grim plains of Cambridge, England - a place as far removed from Nashville and the usual homes of Americana/country music that you could imagine.
None of these absurdities makes "Cold Water Songs" any worse though. It's a fantastic, authentic burn through all the clichés that drive old-time country music with a passionate reverence for the sounds and structures, and a healthy irreverence toward the norms. Some may say they're dragging country into the 21st century, some may say they're as real as "The Darkness", few could deny they're writing some great tunes and having a great time while they're at whatever the hell it is they're at!
The strength of the album definitely lies in the opening tracks "(I don't have the time to) Mess Around", "Twelve Eyes of Evil" and "Devil in the Details". After this the album does drag slightly and the Americana wears a tad thin, stretching the bands knowledge of the genre to its limits, and some later songs slip into a more rock or indie vein. However passionate delivery and atmospheric feel of the closing track "Hitting Women" squarely re-establishes the country vibe and makes you forget the lull in the middle.
My favorite track here though is buried in the middle of the album - "Don't Leave That Woman Unattended" is a joyful romp that showcases that band's many talents, with harmonies and multi-instrumentation galore, producing a song that sounds like it just missed the cut for the Coen Brothers' film "O Brother Where are Thou?". If you loved that film you'll love this. With a black sense of humor and an ear for old-tyme country, these guys deserve to inherit the throne that Johnny Cash has so sadly just vacated."

I haven't heard anyting like it

Grubby Twitcher | Oxford, UK | 09/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, after Rich1million's review I cant promise i can add anything of any worth, but all i'll say is: SIMPLY BUY IT!!!!
There is all the emotions here: love, trust, anger, belief and joy - all twirled round in guitars that lift your heart into space and then...WHOOSH!!!
Yeah, its all here, and you can here that in between the words there is real heart-feelings punishing the bearer into making a song about it...for us!
If the packaging isn't enough to sweep you into this cunning trio's warnth then the music must surely be the one to get you going!
I here their shows are explosive and full of good reviews, so I'll be going to see them next time.
MAYBE SEE YOU THERE!!!
GO GUYS!"