Led by the brothers Braam, vocalist Tom, bassist Mike, and guitarist Scott, the band that bears their name is an under-heralded treasure on the Chicago music scene, crafting smart and melodic alternative folk/guitar rock.
(Jim Derogatis...Chicago Sun-Times rock critic)
BRAAM have just finished KINGS I & II, an 17-song, double recording collection of songs that re-affirms the bands prolific ability to create evocative music. Produced and recorded again by the band in their home studio, KINGS I & II is a rock’n’roll tapestry that draws the listener closer toward the semi-fictional, semi-autobiographical world of “the kings”. During the early recording sessions for the album, original drummer Drefs left the band and Ashdown moved to the drums.
Jim Derogatis of the Chicago Sun Times has this to say about braam:
The three brothers in Braam -- singer Tom, guitarist Scott and bassist Mike Braam -- have always been ambitious home-recording artists, crafting two earlier albums of gorgeous alternative-country in their Oak Park studio. But the trio takes things to another level with the absurdly ambitious double CD "KingsI & KingsII"(www.myspace.com/braammusic). As in the past, you can hear tasteful echoes of the Byrds' "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" (gotta love those sibling harmonies) and, in the rougher guitar-rockers, Neil Young with Crazy Horse, though the lyrics of these wistful tales of love and longing are one of the prime attractions.
Smother.Net Online Rock Zine says this about the new record:
Two releases packed into one package. The Braam brothers, Scott, Mike, and Tom elevate their play as the album progressed song after song. Clearly following the devil's pathway to melody, Braam strikes a deal and forges a unified front against all the mainstream acts that are destined to block the widespread love of this fun pop-rock adventure for an album. In other words, this should scare all of those A&R reps who bet on the bigger dog and looked past the one who was actually writing invigorating songs.
- J-Sin
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