Doyle Bramhall II - Shades

October 5th 2018

(CD Album Review)

****1/2

Forget the famous names, this is a great record without them

Doyle Bramhall II is an American fourty nine year old, Musician / Songwriter / Producer and Instrumentalist. Doyle Bramhall II can play a great number of musical instruments, and is best known for his work with Eric Clapton (Cream) and Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) amongst others. He is also well known for being the son of Songwriter / Drummer Doyle Bramhall, but by now has really made a name for himself. 'Shades' does what it says on the tin, it contains different shades and styles of music from Rock to Blues, to Funk to Jazz, to Disco and on and on. He really knows how to mix up the genres, and does it so well and with style.

'Shades' is Doyle Bramhall II debut record for his new label Provogue, who you can see are the right place for him... in the way they packaged and put together the album. Doyle Bramhall II I think doesn't always get the credit he deserves, and sometimes seems to be put in the background because of the people he has worked with. But Doyle Bramhall II is not an artist you want to ignore, he has so much to offer and I think he will just grow and grow as a Singer / Songwriter... so I personally will be paying attention so I don't miss out.

The rhythm of the opener 'Love and Pain' has a Black Sabbath Esq. undertow, before it adds hints of Lenny Kravitz and modern day Blues. The beat shows off off tempo drums next to a steady rhythm that branches out into interesting ways, a long with vocals that get more interesting as the song goes on. Their also is some nice added guitar sounds, and a bridge that get's stuck in your head.

'Hammer Ring' starts off with a great layered sequence, as Doyle Bramhall II's vocals drift in and out. I really like this track but at first it is a little repetitive, but like 'Love and Pain' it branches out more and shows off that he has some many influences... which includes Gospel. Third track 'Everything you Need' features old slow hands himself Eric Clapton, this is very good track... slow and Funky. Strangely to me it sounds a bit like the demo EP's that James Arthur did, under the name James Arthur Band. But it's a little more 70's, and a little more Disco. Doyle Bramhall II has a very strong voice that leads everything, even when the really nice tones of the backing vocals come in.

'London to Tokyo' is more chilled down, and is the track that I like Doyle Bramhall II's vocals the est on. Even though they are not so high in the mix, and the bridge and chorus are magical... making this the best track on the record. It is really beautiful and takes you to places in your mind, that are pleasant and nice. 'Searching for Love' see's another huge quest star in the form of nine times Grammy award winning female Singer / Songwriter Norah Jones, this track in normal Norah style is really slow. I think that Norah's vocals are too high in the mix, their much higher than Doyle Bramhall II's, but they do blend really nice together... but this is nothing new for Norah. I would like to see her doing something out of her comfort zone, and this is not it. The best thing about this track is the Eric Clapton Esq. guitars which really stand out.

I have to say I don't know much about his guests on the next song, but I really should do because the Greyhounds have been around from 1999. 'Live Forever' sounds very 60's Esq. and has a touch of The Beatles / The Monkees to it, which makes it different from other tracks on the album. I like that Doyle Bramhall II is always trying something different, and some of the atmospherics on this track are really good. Even though some of the sounds, sound like you have heard them all before. 'Break apart to Mend' is a quiet ballad, that is just piano and vocals. This really shows of Doyle's vocals again, and that the fact he is a multi instrumentalist.... I really love the piano on this track.

'She'll come Around' is a real grower, and a track that I hope people get to listen to because it's so far into the album. This track mixes up modern Rock, with Blues and Soul and is really impressive. This track leads on to one of the stand out songs on the album, simply entitled 'The Night', which again reminds me of James Arthur in places, but with a more a Soul mixed with Rock 70's vibe to it. I do wonder why people are talking about John Legend so much, when Doyle Bramhall II is equally as good. Which he shows on 'Parvanah', which shows elements of 70's haunting Rock at it's best. This is another stand out track, it is so epic and even verges on modern Indie Rock in places... or maybe even Kula Shaker.

'Consciousness' brings the tempo of things down to a old Country / Folk storytelling vibe, that is really catchy. This is a great track to have near the end of an album, because it makes you feel like things are coming to an end. So when you get to the last track on the album, which is the last one to contain a guest star, you know that this really is the end of the record. The guest on this song is Tedeschi Trucks Band, and you can see they provide a more Blues vibe to it. I think 'Shades' is a really strong album, where Doyle Bramhall II has really shown himself off as an artist. I personally might have made the track ten songs, so the listener comes away wanting more. But which songs would you take off, because all are really good. 'Shades' is really worth a listen, and I think you will hear more from Doyle in the future.

Review by Dan Devour