Album Review: Edie Brickell & New Bohemians — Stranger Things
Edie Brickell is back. Actually she never left. While she recorded and played with New Bohemians in the early 90s, she dropped the band for her ’94 and ’03 releases. Her latest release, Stranger Things, finds her reunited with a slightly altered lineup of the group.
Brickell’s music still maintains its hallmark navel-gazing, sounds-like-she’s barefoot vibe, but the song structures are rock-solid. This is the sort of album a rock fan could comfortably listen to with their soft-rock-loving friends (Natalie Merchant fans, you know who you are) and not have to shift uncomfortably in his or her seat, waiting for the merciful fadeout of the final track. The tunes have their hooks, especially the title track, “Mainline Cherry” and the chugging “Long Lost Friend.” And “No Dinero” cops a Latin vibe without sounding like cultural plundering. In fact there’s nary a misstep on the disc. Brickell’s voice is more controlled and assertive than ever. The contemplative “Buffalo Ghost” is perhaps the closest thing to what Brickell and the old New Bohemians did back in 1989 in the days before she met Paul Simon (factoid for those who might’ve missed it: Edie Brickell — not Art Garfunkel — is Simon’s wife).
In the adult-contemporary marketplace, this is as strong as it gets. Who would’ve thought such a thing would come from an artist who enjoyed her biggest success a decade and a half ago? As Brickell notes (apparently without a trace of irony) on the title track, stranger things have happened.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.