Donovan Wilson – Reporter
In 2018, “Brothers Osborne” released their record “Port Saint Joe” but their breakout hit came instead from their two year old song “It Ain’t My Fault”. Now the country duo is back with Skeletons and this time, they’re ready to party.
“Lighten Up” rather than crescendo the album, kind of starts as an acoustic riff that slowly slinks into a funky little alternative rock riff. Ironically, the brothers are asking you to lighten up but as soon as the song ends, the energy roars to life. “All Night”, the lead single from the album, is where the elements of arena rock that are displayed on this album start to pop out. It almost paints “Lighten Up” to have been a fake out to all of their previous fans and “All Night” being the real welcoming party.
“All The Good Ones Are” continues this trend of genre blending with their signature sound. The instrumentation on this song wouldn’t sound out of place in a 90s alternative song but paired with the fast sang, drawled vocals you are left with what almost sounds like Zac Brown tried to write for third eye blind and it’s kind of beautiful. “I’m Not For Everyone” is a blast to the past of 2000’s pop country that may annoy a purist but is irresistible to dance to for anyone else.
The title track switches things once more to a much more true blue country sound and sounds like it could be the theme to a Western movie. Everything about it screams an outlaw looking for their arch-enemy in a sweltering desert. “Back On The Bottle” is like if power ballads and honky-tonk had a very energetic and drunk baby.
It feels more as if T.J is talking to us than singing and John just happens to be sound-tracking a late night drunken rambling. It’s a bittersweet celebration of a relapse in a way. “High Note” is purely a beautiful pop ballad about breaking up on good terms.
It’s the inner thoughts of someone who knows this won’t end well but doesn’t want to ruin the good times they have with that person. It’s a simple feeling but one people might resonate with. Elements of bluegrass creep in on “Muskrat Greene” which is a fast-paced instrumental piece that shows off the instrumental prowess of the brothers and serves as a pick me up from the previous song to tell the audience that the party is not over.
This segues into “Dead Man’s Curve,” which is an out of nowhere country rap barn burner that is unapologetically nothing more than a get off your feet and lose your mind anthem. A vibe of a salty breeze on a beach washes over everything as “Make It A Good One” flows into the album like a cold beer at a beach house. It’s the Osborne’s entry into the age old tradition of feeling good country music about making your life great while you have it.
“Hatin’ Somebody”, the second single from the album, is the Osbornes brothers’ response to the hatred prominent in 2020. The gang vocals on the chorus fit perfectly here as it completes the feeling of unity that this song is attempting to display to the audience. “Old Man’s Boots” is a slowly trudging along song that ends an album all about celebrating new influences with back to their roots ballads that ties everything together.
Brothers Osborne are having a victory lap of sorts here. Skeletons is celebration everything the brothers have learned on their way to the top and a way to show everyone what’s to come.