The Deadstring Brothers are the best alt-country band you’ve never heard of. They did everything Whiskeytown should have done after Stranger’s Almanac but never managed to. And it’s my distinct pleasure, if you’ve not heard them before, to introduce them to you.
Their eponymous debut hit in 2002, and featured fantastic songs like, “I’m a Stealer,” “Entitled,” “Unbroken” (.mov video) and, “27 Hours,” along with their cover of Johnny Cash’s, “Long Black Veil.” It takes balls to cover Cash, especially on your first record.
Next came Starving Winter Report, their first album on Bloodshot Records (home to The Detroit Cobras and Ryan Adams–when he was indie). This release had a little more soul and a little less twang, but was just as good as the first. Songs like Sacred Heart , “Get Up Jake,” and Lonely Days left me wanting more, anyway.
So naturally I’m excited that Silver Mountain is on the way! There’s just two tracks available so far, the title cut and Heavy Load have an almost gospel feel. I’m really diggin’ them.
The band gets my highest possible recommendation. Let me know what you think.
Bonus cut:
Where Are All My Friends? (My favorite DB song, and available only a Bloodshot Records that can be found on emusic.)
