As a longtime fan of Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker, I’m one of those people who would definitely like to read a written autobiography from their singer/songwriter/guitarist David Lowery, but he himself thinks his life story is not interesting enough. While I can’t imagine that to be true (how absorbing is his 300 Songs retrospective!?), the alternative he offers is even better. For almost five years he worked on Fathers, Sons and Brothers, an Americana-tinged record with 28 deeply personal songs celebrating his youth, family, friends and the highs and lows of his 40-year career in music.
Despite the cast of (virtual) collaborators (including The Bellrays) and their instrumentation, the music is largely acoustic and sparse, serving the lyrics—captivating and touching stories full of experiences and emotions on being in love, being in a band, and being yourself. It’s tempting to share quote after quote, but let me limit myself to this meta take: “Reverend McDaniel built an orphanage // Sadly, you’ve never heard of him and you barely heard of me // Though I wrote a song called Take The Skinheads Bowling.”
This record is a devoted and insightful journey through time and truth, vulnerably worded, delightfully played, and sincerely sung. It strengthens my bond with this amazing artist even more.
Fathers, Sons and Brothers, produced by David Lowery & Drew Vandenberg, is out now on 2-CD and vinyl 3-LP through Cooking Vinyl. It’s a compilation of previously online-only released solo albums In The Shadow of the Bull, Leaving Key Member Clause, and Vending Machine, including four new previously unreleased songs, and four newly re-recorded tracks. Featuring David Lowery (vocals, guitars, banjo, bass, percussion), with Jim Dalton (guitar), Leith Fleming-Smith (organ), Mark Gilley (saxophones), Bryan Howard (bass, saxophones), Lisa Kekaula (vocals), Jeremy Lawton (keyboards, piano), Luke Moller (fiddle, violin, viola, cello), Carlton Owens (drums), Thayer Sarrano (piano, keyboards), Megan Slankard (vocals, banjo, keyboards), Matt “Pistol” Stoessel (pedal steel), Velena Vego (backing vocals, claps, stomps, castanets), Bob Vennum (guitar, backing vocals) on select tracks.
Add to wantlist: David Lowery || Discogs