Latest duo to hit the country scene, Birmingham, Alabama-born and raised John Davidson and Jacob Bryant sound somewhere between the Everly Brothers, Beatles and Foster & Lloyd (do remember them?) as they drawn on country, pop and rock’n’roll. Plus, with Austin Taylor Smith’s use of keyboards you have a hint of Doug Sahm to go with some Beatles twang on infectious, feel good “Breaking The Law” (as the Liverpool Four’s “Get Back” comes to mind).
Guitar based “Guilty Face” has a great deal more to do with 1960s pop than country, but I have to admit the lead guitar break is most fine, and with them using a chugging Everly Brothers’ sibling feel “Be My Girl” is heaped in teenage strains! Girls young and old-er will find the boys kinda cute, no doubt about it.
While through their diverse influences the music charges out to all points of the globe without setting in one specific area the listener does get to enjoy shades of guitar akin to the 1970s and Suzi Quatro and the like that spills over on “Guilty Face”; and through the heavy, clever use of electric guitar and jolting rhythmic beat ensures it is a winner. It, meaning rhythm is one of the aspects to hang with the boy’s music throughout the record.
If you don’t mind a succession of changes in tempo and direction there is no getting away from the fact they both can play and sing, although I do feel they do need to edit down the choices. But hey it is early days! Helping out the acoustic, electric guitar, trumpet, bass, harmonica and vocals of J & J you have Jake Thrasher (electric bass, lead guitar, backing vocals) Trevor Davis (drums) and Austin Taylor (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals).
Maurice Hope