Middle Brother is the eponymous debut album by the folk-rock band Middle Brother, released on March 1, 2011 on Partisan Records. The band members, all of whom had been in their own bands before forming Middle Brother, described the band's debut album as a "one-off" that they didn't want to take precedence over their original projects.
Background and recording
The album's songs, along with 10 others that were not included on it, were recorded at Adam Landry's home Playground Sound in Nashville, Tennessee over a week-long period. The album also contains songs from each of Middle Brother's members' other bands that never made it onto their previous groups' albums. In March 2010, Middle Brother, then known as "MG&V", played their first show at SXSW, where they said they would release an album soon, depending on their bands' tour schedules.
Critical reception
The album received mainly positive reviews from critics; for instance, Doug Freeman praised the way that "McCauley's caustic growl gets softened by the smoother tenors of Goldsmith and Vasquez." Ken Tucker also reviewed the album favorably in an article written for NPR, in which he compared Middle Brother to Crosby, Stills and Nash—the collaboration between David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash that was originally conceived as a one-time collaboration. Tucker stated that the similarities lie in how each member helps the other achieve a musical effect the other wants.
Track listing
Daydreaming (McCauley) Blue Eyes (Vasquez) Thanks For Nothing (Goldsmith) Middle Brother (McCauley, Goldsmith, Johnny Corndawg) Theater (Vasquez) Portland (Replacements Cover) Wilderness (Goldsmith) Me Me Me (McCauley) Someday (Vasquez) Blood and Guts (Goldsmith) Mom and Dad (McCauley) Million Dollar Bill (Goldsmith)
Personnel
Jonny Corndawg—Vocals on "Middle Brother" Taylor Goldsmith—Vocals Jason Isbell—Guitar on "Blood and Guts" Adam Landry—Producer John J. McCauley III—Vocals Matthew Vasquez—Vocals