In the paper version of DC9 that will be distributed around town later today, Daniel Hopkins takes a long, hard look at Child of Calamity, the two-years-in-the-making debut, full-length release from folksy local roots rocker Kirby Brown, who will celebrate the release of his new disc on Friday night at La Grange.
There are comparisons to be made, Hopkins notes in his review, between Brown and a few other acts in town -- perhaps most notably Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, with whom Brown has toured somewhat in the past, and with whom Brown leaned on somewhat heavily in the recording process of this disc. A few of the Northern Lights pop up on the disc as Brown's backing band; the disc was even produced by former Northern Light Beau Bedford. But it's safe to say that, despite these connections, Brown separates himself from the pack capably on his debut album. Writes Hopkins in his take:
On Calamity, Brown has created something far denser and more layered than anyone in that camp ever has. The disc bounces back and forth from bombastic to sincere, and mostly the latter. Sometimes, Brown rides the line -- most successfully on the album's best cut, "No, MY Generation," a rootsy Brit-pop number, in which his vocal carries the classic UK timbre of The Charlatans singer Tim Burgess.Trust me: That's high praise coming from Hopkins, who himself musically prays at the Brit-pop altar. Many thanks, then, to Brown for agreeing to pass along that very same song as a free download to DC9 readers. Give it a listen and download after the jump.
Bonus MP3:
Kirby Brown -- "No, MY Generation"
Kirby Brown -- "No, MY Generation"
