The Bramble Jam – Move Your Boots CD Review

Posted by Jeff on April 15, 2010 at 12:40 pm

THE BRAMBLE JAM “MOVE YOUR BOOTS”

The Sound: Rootsy, jam band rock-n-roll

In the Cafeteria, They Sit With: Sarah Lee Guthrie & Family, Jack Johnson, Dan Zanes

Best Moments: Hey dads, listen up. This is just between you and me, alright? Have you ever felt incensed by the heavy-handed, mom-focused magazines Parents, Parenting, Parent & Child? (maybe the titles Moms, Motherhood, Mom & Child would be better). And how about all those toy catalogs showing only girls working in the play kitchens? Yeah, me too – never fails to piss me off. Happily, The Bramble Jam have the antidote for such fatherly frustration in the form of “Pancakes”, a song that sets the record straight about who serves up the best from-scratch breakfast. It’s a strong contender for kid’s song of the year honors. What makes “Pancakes” work so brilliantly, in addition to the wit & humor, is mom admitting that yeah, dad’s “the better pancake batter maker”. Save the breakfast bar unwrapping, and those one-sided parenting rags, for mom.

What would happen if you’d blend a little Chuck Berry guitar action with a less-obstinate Pierre (by Maurice Sendak)? Maybe you’d get “Hey Crazy Kid”, a cool throw your hands in the air, family room dance romp.

The meandering “Caught In The Morning Sunbeam” could (maybe should) be heard coming from a boat docked somewhere in the Caribbean as the sun emerges from the watery horizon. It’s a song that Jimmy Buffett, if he ever heard it, may like to cover at some point. It could be his 21st century “Come Monday”.

Bonus Thoughts: In the 80’s, The Bramble Jam’s Asa Brebner shared the stage with the likes of Jonathan Richman, The Kinks, The Cars, The Ramones and Hall & Oates. Now, he stares down from the stage to see knee-high tikes shakin’ it to his music. The only thing cooler is Brebner’s thankful attitude for his new rock-n-roll life. Read his “Notes on ‘Move Your Boots'” here.

Okay, Time to Wrap it Up with a Nice Little Bow: There’s a relaxed sophistication to “Move Your Boots” that’s so damn charming. The album works equally well during long road trips and on lazy weekend mornings – a feat unto itself! The Bramble Jam’s “Move Your Boots” is yet another beautiful surprise in a genre full of sweet, fun music hiding in little nooks and crannies.

*The Bramble Jam’s “Move Your Boots” was provided to OWTK for review. The opinions expressed above are unbiased and true – no arm twisting took place in the review process.