The decision to work with
Mike Elizondo
-- a diverse producer with credits including
Fiona Apple
,
Eminem
, and
Mastodon
-- on their eponymous 2023 album shows that
Brothers Osborne
aren't interested in pursuing a conventional contemporary country path. They have worked with
Elizondo
before, but the producer is their primary collaborator on
, helping to move the duo into distinctive musical territory. While they hardly run from twang, either in their voices or their guitars,
create a sharp, colorful collage of pop styles here, giving them a distinctly country spin. Save the sweet closer "Rollercoaster (Forever and a Day),
throbs to a heavy four/four beat, a rhythm that remains whether they drift into sweet ballads or barrel down into dance music. Although
occasionally partake in explicit country-disco -- "Ain't Nobody Got Time for That" practically conjures the glory days of glitter balls, while "Nobody's Nobody" updates that sound with its percolating synth loops -- the influence is as felt as it is heard, helping the record sound big and brawny. Along with the big beat, the constants are
T.J. Osborne
's husky voice and
John Osborne
's muscular guitar, elements that tie this album to the duo's earlier records but sound especially vivid in this vibrant, colorful setting: it is the same
that you know, only bigger and bolder than before. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine