Kevin Devine - Brother's Blood
Rating
RIYL
Brand NewManchester Orchestra
Bright Eyes
Release Date
04/28/2009
Tracklist
1. All Of Everything Erased2. Carnival
3. Another Bag Of Bones
4. Hand Of God
5. Brother's Blood
6. Fever Moon
7. It's Only Your Life
8. Murphy's Song
9. I Could Be With Anyone
10. Yr Husband
11. Tomorrow's Just Too Late
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When the first three songs of Kevin Devine’s Brother’s Blood play, there is a sense that this could be one of the best albums of 2009, but if not, it is definitely Devine’s greatest release thus far. It is an album full of passion, doubt, anger, and mourning that is backed up by a much more grown up sound in comparison to past releases. It is a record that will surely make more people give attention to Devine as an individual, rather than the guy who occasionally appears on stage with Brand New.
The album goes from song to song without ever letting you down, and when the last song plays, you lay with your headphones waiting and wanting for more. There isn’t one song that might seem as though it was filler; every song has earned its place on the record. Devine has never been afraid to let his feelings show, wearing them as a badge of honor on his sleeve, but he is able to do this without ever appearing overly whiny, as might be the common perception.
Devine is obviously against the war in Iraq, as clearly displayed on "No Time Flat" from 2005’s Split the Country, Split the Street, and on this album he expresses his disbelief in God with the song "Tomorrow’s Just Too Late." The acoustic laden track features Devine softly singing with Brand New’s Jesse Lacey lending the vocals, “The God I’ve read about / Can go where he’s not asked to go / And you’ve got a choice to make / Shut him out, save yourself or sit and wait,” as if shooting a flare of warning to all those who need to take matters into their own hands instead of relying on the almighty to make things happen.
In the track "Brother’s Blood," a down-beat rocker with a western drawl, Devine sings with a shrill in his voice, pronouncing his grief over the death of his brother. His voice climbs higher as the music becomes more intense to the point where he is screaming for vengeance. Devine is able to cover many topics that any listener would be able to relate to: a song appealing to all senses of the human body in the opening track "All of Everything, Erased," the mourning of a man’s best friend in "Murphy’s Song," and a night full of sin described in the Latin flavored "
You'll also notice he seems a bit frustrated with some facets of today's society. The track "Another Bag Of Bones" shows him cleverly writing about the many stories you see on the news every day that nearly scare you enough to stay in your home. The song walks along as it crescendos with Devine telling everyone that it is, “Time now, to burn.” On this cleverly written song, he is able to show himself as an intricate poet on top of being a talented songwriter.
Devine holds nothing back on this album; it’s as though you are peering through his journal as he expresses his every thought. With Brother’s Blood he dives into areas of music that are foreign to both Split the Country, Split the Street and Put Your Ghost to Rest. It may only be March, but this album should be showing up on many year end top 10 lists.
--Andrew Beam
Comments
I'm a huge KD fan and am really looking forward to getting my hands on this one. I enjoyed the review, as well.
Los Angeles
KD can't do any wrong in my book. Really grounded dude also
San Jose, CA
sleeper hit of the year. never heard any of his work before this album, and when i first heard this one, i thought it was trying too hard to be bright eyes' softer moments. it grew on me though. fever moon and it's only your life are the most powerful dual tracks i've heard all year
last.fm/user/thetsaiguy
West Haven, CT
Good CD.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
San Jose, CA
My opinion of this album has definitely changed. I don't like it as much anymore, and I don't think KD is overrated. He's getting the attention he about deserves imo.
last.fm/user/thetsaiguy
West Haven, CT
He has Brand New helping out.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.