The Young Brothers Revival - Hymns From The Gutter

The story behind The Young Brothers Revival is a tragic one. Taylor Jordan and Mike Wilkerson were huge fans of roots rock and Americana, and in order to fuel that love, and experiment with it so as to introduce it to others, they formed the Young Brothers Revival. They had written a few songs together and were excited about what their two heads would be able to come up with through future collaborations. However, tragedy struck when Mike Wilkerson died suddenly one lonely night. After taking time to grieve and contemplate what he wanted to do, Taylor decided to carry on with the project. Gary Kjorvestad, another grieving friend, was also inspired to write, and together they continued to flesh out previous material, and compose new material resulting in the captivating release 'Hymns From The Gutter.'

Having undergone a similar tragedy myself in recent months, I was looking forward to not only being entertained by their music, but to also being inspired and moved by the lyrics expressed here. The album does so to enormous effect. Taking a cue from Loudermilk's "Tobacco Road," Wilkerson's 'Saint and Sinner' has an authentic barroom sound, with a thumping beat and a rollicking guitar sound. 'Fallen Angel' is an all out country song with beautiful harmonies, sounding like the type of song that would have fit right into the Everly Brothers songbook. 'Stuck In A Bottle' shuffles along nicely, displaying a real classic feel. My favorite song is 'Are You,' a slight blues number that throws in a bit of 'Eight Miles High'-like psychedelia. Sweet variety pervades the entire album. The songs that specifically address Mike's tragedy never sound like a deliberate attempt to play on people's emotions, which can really be a pet peeve of mine. The songs I'm referring to are 'Michael's Song' and 'Pretty,' and they sound genuine and honest. They also seem to exhibit a faith that has been strengthened in the midst of tragedy, as opposed to being lost. That also, is something that I can relate to. This release touches the heart, remains positive and shows the benefits that come with endurance. And it rocks.

Download: Are You mp3
Myspace: The Young Brothers Revival
Purchase: Hymns From The Gutter over at their online store.