Review: Brian D’Addario – Till the Morning

An outstanding solo effort rivalling his brilliant work with The Lemon Twigs

Brian D’Addario has been quite the prolific songwriter of late. In case you weren’t aware, he is one half of The Lemon Twigs alongside his brother Michael. The New York outfit have won favour with the critics while gathering an acclaim that, at least at first glance, appears a little curious. Well, they’ve long walked a thin line between acknowledging classic ‘60s songwriters and being a pastiche of that period. Yet, somehow, him and his brother produce music that hits a sweet spot so perfectly, it’s impossible to feel any sense of cynicism toward them.

Only last May did The Lemon Twigs release fifth album A Dream Is All We Know, leaning on upbeat Beach Boy harmonies and the Beatles early experimental era (‘Merseybeach’, anyone?) for their most coherent effort yet. So, you might expect a Brian solo adventure to mark a radical reinvention and a chance to break free from his brother, right? Or not.

The singer-songwriter’s solo album Till the Morning - the first independent release from the brothers own Headstack Records - was in fact co-produced alongside Michael. His brother sings harmonies and co-lead a couple of the songs as well. So, is this just more of the same as The Lemon Twigs then? Not far off, which is no bad thing in truth. It’s joyous and richly crafted, pulling from similar folk, baroque-pop and vintage rock influences. The only difference here is the focus being solely on Brian.

The self-titled track finds the project opening in familiar territory. Lyrically, ‘Till the Morning’ uses love as vehicle for escaping life’s burdens (“When I get off the train and I crawl in your bed / The past rolls away a lifetime of dread” confesses Michael in a Springsteen-esque manner) and finds comfort in upbeat yet yearning, classic rock tendencies.

Meanwhile, ‘Nothing On My Mind’, written after Brian listened to a Carter Family recording of ‘Wildwood Flower’ on repeat, welcomes a more explosive pace. A total delight on the ears, matching ‘60s beat music with the singer’s emotionally confused lyrics. Such lyrical quirks as “My boss was kind—he treated me fine / But I hated him anyway” before revealing an unexplained depression within the chorus: “Oh there’s nothing on my mind / But I just can’t keep from cryin’”.

‘Till the Morning’ features two collaborations with Stephen Kalinch - the LA poet famous for his relationship with the Beach Boys. And these tracks stand out amongst the record’s best. Firstly, ‘Song For Everyone’, where pretty guitar plucking, quaint lyricism and pristine vocals from Brian evoke peak Springtime vibes.

Kalinch, again, provides the words to ‘What You Are Is Beautiful’: the ninth track also minimally acoustic and seasonal, the 83-year-old poets’ lyrics pure and earnest through Brian’s falsetto delivery (“Through your eyes of sadness I see richness beyond measure / More than any earthly treasure” he elegantly sings in the second verse).

In an accompanying press release, Brian describes the album’s style as “country baroque” and this approach ensures welcomed progression. Certainly, the slide guitars on ‘One Day I’m Coming’ and ‘This Summer’, slowed down piano on ‘Flash in the Pan’ and Beatles-like orchestrations on ‘Useless Tears’ add some new strings to the singer-songwriter’s bow.

A successful solo jaunt, then. Pleasant and gorgeous, ‘Till the Morning’ was released by Brian D’Addario as means of putting out new music before the next Lemon Twigs instalment later this year. And rather than radically shifting the dial, there’s, again, comfort in these nostalgia-soaked songs. An houtstanding effort rivalling his brilliant work with The Lemon Twigs.

9/10