The Original Brothers and Sisters of Love Albums (2)
'H.O.M.E.S., Vol. 1'
Release Date 8/14/2001
Tracks 12
Label Telegraph Company
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
There's no denying the sheer artiness of the Original Brothers and Sisters of Love, even if their second album, H.O.M.E.S., is positively streamlined and muscular compared to their endearingly precious debut, The Legende of Jeb Minor. Here, TOBASOL strengthen their sound, retaining their enticing ethereal feel, yet making it more direct with a clean, direct production and melodies that delve into tuneful psychedelia as often as they seem like forgotten folk songs. In retrospect, it's a logical outgrowth of their first album, yet the punchy, live production comes as a bit of a shock at first. While this sound isn't as dreamy as Jeb Minor, it's enhances the group's essential character. The Brothers and Sisters still don't sound like anybody else, as they blend the past and present, not just in their music, but in their very lyrics. If their debut hung suspended in time, this record has a clear sense of place -- namely, Michigan, particularly Michigan's past. Like a folky, American XTC, they reconstruct the past for the present, borrowing folk inflections for pop songs and vice versa. And make no mistake -- even with neo-folk tales like the stomping "Foreman of the Mill," there's a heavier pop element here, evidenced by both the skipping "Michigan and Trumbull," the dissonant-specked "Beautiful Night," even the lovely "Silent Apologies." Although H.O.M.E.S. is constructed like a classic record, flowing easily and filled with warm, little sonic details, TOBASOL have created a record that's nevertheless new. It's easy to get caught up in their thrill of discovery as they craft a delightfully eccentric record that consolidates their strengths while pushing into new territory. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'The Legende of Jeb Minor'
Release Date 1/1/1999
Tracks 14
Label Planet Ant
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The most remarkable thing about the Original Brothers and Sisters of Love's debut album The Legende of Jeb Minor is that it sounds entirely out of time. If anything, it sounds like a great unreleased album from the vaults of Harvest Records, since its blend of folk, psychedelia, prog-rock, and sea shanties is of piece with the legendary British label's willfully eccentric bent. Still, such a compliment may seem backhanded, a way to dismiss the record as a self-conscious attempt to recreate the '70s. That's not the case at all. The Legende of Jeb Minor may recall classic progressive albums, but that's only because the Brothers and Sisters have the inclination to follow their ideas past their logical conclusion, resulting in fresh configurations of familiar sounds. The Legende is firmly rooted in folk traditions -- most of the songs are built on acoustic guitars, there are whistles and accordions peppered throughout the mix, the backing vocals are a blend of sea shanties and campfire singalongs -- but it isn't a folk album because the band's sensibilities are somewhat post-modern. They don't see any boundaries between musical styles or genres, or even lyrical subject; there are songs that play as fables and others that sound like myths. They never renounce the past -- they build on it, creating an album that is gently mesmerizing as it sways from tranquil to surging folk-prog anthems. The best thing about it all is that the music always feels familiar, as if you've heard the songs hundreds of times before, yet it simultaneously feels fresh and unpredictable -- in other words, a little out of time, drawing from the past and set in the present, but belonging to neither. It's a neat trick to pull off, and the fact that The Legende of Jeb Minor is a debut effort makes it all the more impressive. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
