The Lost Brothers - The Trials of the Lonely (Parts I&III)

Americana is a pretty loose critical description at the best of times, but after this summer’s revolting aural assault from Kid Rock, the danger of suggesting some kind of generic equivalence between the romantic, tender Americana of the Lost Brothers and the yee-haw-six-pack-and-spousal-abuse Americana of Mr. Rock is particularly pronounced. Rest assured, the Lost Brothers operate at the opposite end of the spectrum from All Summer Long’s turgid hick-fest, both geographically (they actually hail from Ireland) and sonically, layering carefully crafted songs with pedal steel guitar, acoustic arpeggios and harmonic vocals that croon about fools in love. Its affectingly straightforward approach rewards with an atmospheric timelessness, though by drawing from such a limited rustic palette the record occasionally flags from a lack of variety. But when it works - as on the Simon and Garfunkel strum of Angry at the Sun, or the laidback, whistle-led Wake Me Up - it soars. [Chris Buckle]