Search - Warren Brothers :: Barely Famous Hits

BARELY FAMOUS? Maybe.......Major Talents? DEFINITELY!!

Jef Fazekas | Newport Beach, California United States | 09/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I don't normally review Greatest Hits packages, but since A) there aren't any real major hits on this collection (something the brothers themselves admit!) and B) I didn't get into the Warren Brothers until their last release so, since a lot of this material is pretty much new to me, I figured "What the heck?" Any promotion is good promotion, right? That said, I'm glad this album came out...I fell in love with 2004's brilliant WELL DESERVED OBSCURITY, after being turned on to the Warren's via Nashville Star, but I was hesitant to pick up their first two albums, not knowing if the material would be similar or as powerful. Judging from the strength of the early material, I'm going to have to rethink that line of thought. In fact, it's the earlier material that sounds the best....the three songs from OBSCURITY have (sadly) been remixed, losing most of the charm and punch that initially made them so fresh and energetic. All three cuts now have a...sameness...to them, sort of a bad demo quality. Do yourself a favor and check out WDO for far-superior versions of "Change", "Comeback" and "Sell Alot Of Beer." Because of this, we'll just be concentrating on the older songs in this review. After "Change" opens things up, we seque into the thought-provoking "What We Can't Have." This "the-grass-is-always-greener" mid-tempo rocker sails along with a nice, steady groove, earnestly doling out lyrics from the viewpoint of the singer, a member of the audience, a bar patron and the bartender. When Brett Warren sings the lines "We all want what we can't have/It's enough to drive you mad" you're taken aback by both the truth and the sadness therein. Special note also has to be made of Brad Warren's sterling guitar work. There's an aching beauty to "Greyhound Bus" that is almost palpable...with it's delicate piano runs, muted rhythm section and understated vocal, one initially thinks this is just another break-up song. By song's end (and a clever lyrical twist!), you realize just how much more it is. Another winner! I also really love "Guilty"...this country/rock hybrid has a swagger to it that's downright infectious! Sly and slinky, the track creeps up on you, much the way love can, according to the lyrics. Anchored by some rock-solid drumming and punchy harmonica accents, Warren's vocal is spot-on, culminating in the joyous "Guilty!" chorus. THIS should have been a hit! There's an almost tortured beauty to "Where Does It Hurt" that just punches you in the gut...this gorgeous ballad is like a teardrop and a hug set to music, reminding us A) that life will always have it's ups and downs and B) sometimes we'll be the support system, other times we'll need the support. It's made all the more powerful when it involves family, passed from generation to generation. Add stinging pedal steel and a mournful, yet forceful, lead vocal and you have a true classic. Mark my word, this WILL be a hit one day, if not for the Warren Brothers then as a cover version by someone else. I also LOVE the Eaglesesque "Waiting For The Light To Change." With it's bopping piano, So Cal harmonies, ringing guitars and sardonic lyrics ("Sitting in my car in Southern California/Just like I do every day/Thinking about my life/And whether I should go or stay/Yes, I'll turn this car around/I'm just waiting for the light to change"), this is classic California 70's country/pop/rock at it's best, something that could have very easily fit nicely onto THE LONG RUN. Another major "Shoulda been!!" "Move On" is a hard-rockin', acoustic guitar-driven slice of life. With it's caustic (but truthful) lyrics - "We're always saying things/That we don't always mean/Like I love you/And I'll be with you for all eternity/We don't have that long/To work this out" - this is the kind of break-up song that is universal, hitting you below the belt (I particularly love the lines "And I don't want to stay/Just because I don't want to leave/I got one foot out the door/I got one foot in my mouth"). "Hey Mr. President" is as topical now, if not moreso, as when it first came out a few years ago. It's heartfelt message of unity is a beautiful, albeit distant, one to envision...and it must be a tough one for any Commander In Chief to spearhead. A sedate, yet tasty, arrangement provides added punch. Things end on both an up note ("King Of Nothing") and a down one ("That's The Beat Of A Heart"). "King Of Nothing" is one of the most haunting songs of the last decade. All swirling guitars - Brad's acoustic solo is KILLER! - emotional vocals and pained lyrics ("I'm standing on top of the world tonight/But I feel like jumping"), this is another classic that, hard as it is to imagine, slipped thru the cracks. What a shame! "That's The Beat Of A Heart" is anything but a classic....a duet with Sara Evans, it's just cliched pop drival, everything that's represented the worst of country music over the last twenty years. I just can't fathom the Warren's wanting to cut this song...their then-label had to have pushed it on them! But one cluncker is no big deal...the rest of this disc proves that the Warren Brother's trademark intelligence, wit and creativity were evident right from the start, and that's not something you can argue so strongly about most acts in regard to their first couple of releases. Yep, the Warren Brothers may be BARELY FAMOUS right now, but with talent like this...well, I think they'll soon be referred to as HUGELY FAMOUS! (I am docking the disc half a star for not including the lyrics....one of the best things about Brad and Brett!)."

Check out the Warren Brothers!

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 09/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Warren Brothers are probably the most under-rated act in country music. They are great live performers, which is why acts like Tim McGraw and Brooks & Dunn continue to book them to open their shows, even though radio does not embrace their music. Lead singer Brett Warren is one of the most expressive vocalists in any genre of music, able to sell the tender love song "That's The Beat Of The Heart" and the rowdy rocker "Guilty" with equal facility. Collectively, the brothers contribute harmonies of a tightness not heard in Nashville since the heyday of Foster & Lloyd.



This cd is a decent retrospective of the Warrens' first three albums. The top 30 hit "Hey Mr. President" appears on a Warren Brothers album for the first time, while two of their higher charting singles are strangely omitted: the rockabilly charmer "She Likes To Rock" and the earnest ballad "Better Man." They can be found on the Warrens' 1998 debut cd Beautiful Day In The Cold Cruel World. The collection's highlight is its leadoff single "Change," the theme song for the Warren Brothers' CMT series Barely Famous. It's received little airplay, despite being catchier than anything else currently being played at country radio.

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4 & 1/2...another job well done..

S. Kranenburg | NJ, USA | 09/27/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Warren Brothers are an amazing duo who sadly, aren't praised as much as they should be. These guys have too much potential to let them go to waste. The only reason that they're "barely famous" is because of the audience they're trying to appeal to. They want to be heard by the bubble gum country listeners that jump on whatever bandwagon sounds good for the time. The thing is though, that the people that can actually make them big are too busy listening to that same bubble gum country music. So now that I'm done with my personal vendetta, on with the review...

The songs on this album really prove what they are trying to become. There's not a track on this album that I don't like. The songs are all catchy yet meaningful. It proves their ability as not only performers, but as artists. I don't own any of their previous albums but after this one I bought all of them to see what other hiddens talents they possess. I think they deserve long overdue credit for their musical abilities. I would highly suggest buying this c.d."