Search - Felice Brothers :: Tonight at the Arizona

"Real" Music - Full of Life and Soul

A. Morris | 09/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the pleasure to experience The Felice Brothers live a couple of times this summer. If you ever get the chance, don't miss them - they're great performers, lots of fun and boy do they connect with the audience. This isn't "prettied-up" music - it's gritty and it gets to you. Reminiscent of Bob Dylan in the '60's. Great energy - you can't go wrong with this album - you'll play it over and over."

A Genuine Classic

Leven1 | West Lothian | 06/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album seems to have been largly ignored in the US despite the band being homegrown in New York State and that really is a shame. The songs have a timeless quality so it difficult to tell when the songs were written. They sound new and familar at the same time.



There have been many comparisons with the Band and I guess that to an extent that is fair but they are much much more than a rip off of the Band (although they do seem to dress like them on occasion). I would also throw in acoustic Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt and many other influences of a similar ilk. The music on this album is mostly dark acoustic, countryish, whisky drenched folk. There seems to be more than one of the guys that takes lead vocals on the songs and this provdes some variety. The main singer does sound a bit dylanesque though. The lyrics are all fairly dark dealing with those in difficulty at the edges of society.



However the beauty of the songs is in their ability to transport you into the world of the songs protaganists. The Ballad of Lou the Welterweight to me is a very New York sounding song. It takes me to the New York of old 40s black and white movies. Hey Hey Revolver has a Neil Young (tonights the night) sound to it. T for Texas is an upbeat country rock song while Rockefller Drug Law Blues is a very sweet, sad, melancoly song about a guy who falls victim to the aforementioned law. The songs are songs that stick with you and are all catchy enough that you will find your self singing them time after time; as if you have been listening to them for years but also not familiar enough to become grating as some catchy songs can.



I have heard complaints that the album can sound sloppy and raw. It is and I love it all the more for that. The odd harmony or instument is out of tune or out of synch but it only adds to the intimate feel of the album.



Despite the albums quiet, sad feel I have heard that the the Felice Brothers can be quite a raucous band to see live. A little of this may be captured in the live(?) last song Take This Hammer which resembles a drunken jam session in a bar with the Felice Brothers and some friends and I hope captures the attitude of the brothers. Their second album is also out and although muscially more upbeat is just as good. I am hopeful that the Felice Brothers will be producing music like this for many many years to come. Sit in a darkened room, crack open a beer, light a cigarette and enjoy."