ALBUM REVIEW: Brothers Osborne - Brothers Osborne

Brothers Osborne - Brothers Osborne

In some ways, Brothers Osborne are emblematically country. With small-town roots, lyrics about life’s simple pleasures (“Who Says You Can’t Have Everything,”) and an affable twang, there’s no doubt that the brothers are Nashville songwriters—something to be proud of. 

In other ways, though, the dynamic duo brings a fresh outlook to the country scene, which—to non-fans—can seem like a genre stuffed with bromidic lyrical hooks. That’s what makes the brothers’ self-titled album, released September 15, 2023, so memorable—it has all the merits of country music with none of the blemishes.

If you could take this album—the instruments, the lyrics, the message—and hold it up to the light, you’d see a kaleidoscope of influences, genres, and lyrical moods. The Brothers Osborne flaunt 1970s disco-inspired grooves in “Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That” and “Might As Well Be Me.” This new experimentation could have something to do with the brothers’ switch to producer Jay Joyce for the project. Even with a new producer, they’ve managed to preserve their ability to perfectly complement lead vocals with lead guitar—something that originally sparked my interest in the duo in their single “Stay a Little Longer.”

The brothers are self-proclaimed as “equal parts country and rock,” which shines through in their ability to write anthemic choruses like the one in “Nobody’s Nobody.” This song, along with “Love You Too,” are representative of the brothers' mission in promoting inclusivity. This activism seems closely tied with their identity as performing artists, and it sets them apart in the best way. Still, there’s even a touch of the small-town, weekend-loving, cold beer-in-my-hand attitude of the (in)famous “bro country” genre in the tune “Sun Ain’t Even Gone Down Yet.”

Brothers Osborne is gritty and compassionate, resilient and delicate. It’s rooted in country, but eclipses the genre in just the right ways.

- DJ Grid AKA Ingrid Gessert

RIYL: Jon Pardi, Zac Brown Band, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town

Recommended tracks: “Nobody’s Nobody,” “Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That”

FCC: Clean