Smith & Burrows It sounds like a hardware store in a remote, timeless village somewhere in the darkest Yorkshire, a place that hasn’t changed in 50 years but it can always be trusted. to sell you exactly the kind of screws you’re looking for, where they’re actually a musical duo of Tom Smith and Andy Burrows.
Tom Smith will be better known to you as the lead singer of the bands Birmingham Editors and Andy Burrows, and has a substantial portfolio of solo material, perhaps more widely remembered for his roles. in Razorlight and We Are Scientific. The pair formed a friendship many years ago and culminated in their initial release of an album of Christmas-themed songs nearly a decade ago. Their debut album, ‘Funny Looking Angels’, released in November 2011, features covers including Katie Melua’s ‘Wonderful Life’ and Yazoo’s ‘Only You’ and is characterized by soft harmonies. and folk-inspired musical instruments.
‘Only Smith & Burrows Is Good Enough’, the duo’s latest release, is similarly framed (Minus the Christmas influence) but with a much broader arc than its predecessor. Recorded in Nashville with Grammy Award-winning producer Jacquire King (Kings Of Leon, Tom Waits, Editors, etc.) before the CoVID19 pandemic, this is a recording that seems to be infused with positivity. Tom Smith was delighted with the results, explaining, “We had some downtime where we could get together and go record these songs with someone who just had them. You took it for granted at the time, but looking back now, it feels so special.” Getting to know each other and going away was nothing new for the couple, who both went on vacation. together and family for many years.
The ease with which Smith & Burrows is evident is evident in how the two describe their working relationship, but also in how that manifests in their resumes. Both Smith and Borrows have produced some great music, which vary widely in their careers but none come close to the music they make together. The editors are known for their dark brooding sounds, and their Razorlights are their Indie Power-Pop blasters, both of which aren’t obvious here.
The new album dropped the previous three songs as singles. The first of these, ‘All The Best Moves’, released last June, is also the opening track for the album and the song the pair have performed since the Editors 2018 tour.’ Old TV Shows’ and ‘Parliament Hill’ complete the pre-album trilogy with all of them showcasing the combination of skills that Tom and Andy brought to their partnership.
“I am (considered) the dark one!” Tom said, “But I remember working on old TV Shows. Andy writes the verse, I write the chorus. He was doing this venting out real sadness, then I jumped in: ‘Don’t worry, it’s the past, it’s burned out already, keep going! “
Their 10 new tracks include all self-written songs, including all three singles released to date. Elsewhere, ‘Buccaneer Rum Jum’ is a playful, repulsive song with great piano hooks and muted trumpets, ‘Spaghetti’ shows more vocals, and ‘Bottle Tops’ is a song. playful, lighthearted, echoing from the early 80s but with a twist of folk irony. There’s a closer national anthem performance in anticipation with the penultimate track, “Too Late,” and a showcase of vocal talent on the album’s latest track, “Straight Up Like A Mohican.”
Andy Burrows said: “It was the most idyllic musical getaway I could ever dream of having. It was long in the making with some of the songs conceived a decade ago, but the pair have finally completed their second album, after recording it during “six weeks of summer in Tennessee.” ‘Only Smith & Burrows Is Good Enough’ sees the protagonist pair embrace their harmonious, mellow sides to pique an amusing curiosity that’s both lighthearted and justifiable.
