Thursday , March 28 2024
Holly Golightly and Lawyer Dave return with another album of quirky music.

Music Review: Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs – Sunday Run Me Over

I began listening to Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs about three albums ago. It has always amused me that despite the name, the group is actually a duo composed of frontwoman Holly Golightly and the somewhat mysterious Lawyer Dave.

Golightly is a veteran of the British music scene, having participated on close to 30 albums as a solo artist or band member. When you add in dozens of guest appearances and collaborations, you have one of the more prolific artists of the past several decades.

During the mid-2000s she formed a musical relationship with the Texas-born multi-instrumentalist Lawyer Dave. They have proven to be a good combination, both as songwriters and musicians.

Their sound borders on the quirky without ever completely leaving the mainstream. It is fairly stripped down and even raw in places as their songs explore their personal brand of philosophical roots music.

Their latest album, Sunday Run Me Over, will be released October 9th. The production sounds better than their past releases, maybe because they built their own studio on their farm outside of Athens, Georgia. It has an unhurried feel as the songs meander along and intertwine with one another.

Nine of the 12 tunes are originals. The album begins with the rambling “Goddamn Holy Roll,” which proves that they still have some bite in their lyrics. It also gave birth to the album title. “One For The Road” is one of those songs that has defined their career—a waltz that remains just a little off-kilter. “They Say” is a duet that shows how connected they are to each other. “This Shit Is Gold” may be a bit raw, but then so are they in places.

Golightly, solo and with the Brokeoffs, has always had the ability to choose interesting cover songs. They give an inspired performance on the old 1953 Davis Sisters hit, “I Forgot More.” Wayne Raney’s gospel-laced song, “A Whole Lot More,” is a fine match for a Golightly interpretation. Mac Davis’ “It’s Hard To Be Humble” was one of the more unusual country songs of the early 1980s and Lawyer Dave brags his way through the lyrics.

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs are always an adventure and Sunday Run Me Over is no exception. If you are in the mood for something a little different then this is an album for you.

About David Bowling

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