With Celebration, Florida, upstate New York band The Felice Brothers have taken a pretty noticable departure from their country folk roots. Over the last couple of years, this band has developed as a rock and roll staple at festivals such as Mountain Jam, Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, distinctive for their raucous showmanship and rootsy, back porch vibes. This new release shows a venture into different production styles for the band, and employs the use of drum machines and synthesizers which were lacking from previous releases. The record contains many dirge like songs, with thoughtful lyrics and symphonic arrangements. One stand out track is "Honda Civic," which may be the catchiest of the bunch, and features some impactful horns. Also, "Oliver Stone," an ode to the filmmaker, has a sweeping, narrative quality somewhat reminiscent of Tom Waits. Overall, fans of Felice Brothers records from ages past might be a little taken aback at first my some of the sonic experimentations found on Celebration, Florida. Repeat listens, however, reveal that the same folksy spirit does run through most of the songs, and the excellent musicianship of the bandmembers shines through. Here's the first single off the record for a little taste.
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