All Ears: Bright Men Of Learning - Fired
There are many songwriters in this world at this point; heck even a 16 year-old girl who pens a tune about homework is technically a songwriter. But for each swath of songwriters, there are few storytellers. Fortunately, however, we are graced with persons like Bright Men Of Learning’s Marshall Preddy, whose lyrics on the band’s new record, Fired, breach cinematic in scope. The album feels like a heart set loose for a decade who has just returned and set its adventures to song. Album closer “Western Hearts” - a world-weary tale of a senator doing “the best thing he can do” - is just begging for a music video.
Fired’s dusty, definitely Western but not country sound feels warm, comfortable and familiar without becoming boring, tired or trite. The album brings to mind Ryan Adams and Tom Petty, without feeling that too much is owed to either. We’d heard a few of the band’s earlier tunes, but it feels like they’ve really nailed it on this album - there’s not a sleeper here. Perhaps it is Preddy’s gravelly, seemingly always exhausted voice that pulls us into the stories, or the balance of the trio of guitars at work throughout the record without ever overwhelming each other.
Harmonies, lap steel, whoa-ohs, expressive but restrictive guitar interplay and some sharp percussion arrangements provide a solid foundation for what is an excellently constructed album that’s sure to sit high on our Best of 2010 list. Sure, we could pick a favorite song or four, but the fact of the matter is that we’re more than happy to just let this album sit on repeat - something we’ve done several times over the few weeks since it hit our inbox. Do yourself a favor and buy it now. To paraphrase Preddy’s lyrics on “Left Behind” - we like where they’re going, and we’ve marked our calendars.
Bright Men Of Learning plays an album release show for Fired at Rudyard’s this Saturday, September 18th. Opening acts include Orange Is In and Jim Beazy, and the $8 cover will also get you a download card for the album. In addition, the band will be playing an in-store at Cactus Music at 3 pm on Saturday, which is absolutely free. Fired will also be available on LP, which can be purchased online, or at Cactus Music and Sound Exchange. Don’t skip it.
[Ed. Note: We had a whole review typed up and lost it to a browser crash. Sadness. This pretty much embodies that one, but we had to rush it as we’ve got to get to work. Sorry if it doesn’t feel terribly polished, but we love this album.]
