Posts Tagged ‘Medicine’

Official music video for the single “American Beauty”, off the upcoming album, “Medicine”, from Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors.  Medicine is the seventh studio release from Drew Holcomb and his backing band, The Neighbors. Recorded in just eight days at Nashville’s Middletree Studios, and without any obvious studio trickery, this is the sound of a group of musicians knowing what they want to achieve and how to make it happen.

Drew Holcomb’s music comes from the place where Americana crashes into mainstream pop and becomes universally accessible. Much of “Medicine” has the same crossover appeal that Ryan Adams achieved with Gold. Tracks like Tightrope, Avalanche and Ain’t Nobody Got It Easy are instant highlights which bear all the hallmarks of Holcomb’s well-crafted folk repertoire.

The overarching message of the album is best summed up on the song “Here We Go”, a Jack Johnson style staccato proclamation. “Music, it makes you feel good / Makes you feel understood/ Like you’re not alone, you’re not a rolling stone” Holcomb speak-sings, paying tribute to the real medicine in his life, music.

“Medicine” sounds comfortingly familiar but there are enough distinctive moments, such as the bluesy hymn Sisters Brothers, for it to also offer something new to the genre. This is music for everyone, a soothing balm for the ears.

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors - 'Medicine' - cover (300dpi)

Drew Holcomb’s last album Good Light was so good, it nearly knocked my sideways and after several sittings; trying to get my head around the change of pace on “Medicine” I think I feel exactly the same way about this offering. With no disrespect intended to the Neighbors; this album sounds less of a band offering and more a singer-songwriter coming of age; as the deep and slightly introspective songs

“Medicine” opens with the delightful “American Beauty” which combines some intricate guitar picking with Holcomb’s distinctive voice on a gorgeous love song that includes the line “Her kiss felt like a loaded gun;” . The singer’s delivery is always deceptively simple; but that only goes to mask some of the finest songwriting to come out of East Nashville in the last 10 years.

If you scratch away the veneer you will find some of the most romantic songs you’ve ever heard and on Shine Like Lightning Holcomb isn’t afraid to blast out a powerful chorus and the melodies on The Last Thing We Do and Ain’t Nobody Got It Easy are worthy of daytime radio anywhere in the world.

Holcomb’s duet and harmony’s with wife Ellie are well worth the wait; not only because it includes some amazing whistling;  All Said and Done; which closes the album is a raw love song that judiciously uses a pedal steel half way through to emphasise the pain in his voice; before a climax that easily pushes the likes of Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith into the shadows. Unlike some of his contemporaries, Drew Holcomb has been hawking his act around the pubs and clubs for 10 years now, serving an apprenticeship and honing his undoubted skilss; and hopefully Medicine just may be the vehicle to turn him into an overnight success.

Liverpool band the Sundowners, Back to you is from their new EP “Medicine” a lifting Psych Pop Tune with a great flowing bass line and a fuzzed guitar solo just awesome. due 12th May on Skeleton Records.