The Proclaimers, who will forever have fans who only show up to shows to hear the inevitable "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" encore, have quietly amassed an impressive canon of material since their 1987 debut. Some may have (unfairly) tossed the duo into the "one-hit wonder" pile after the success of its signature hit, but brothers
Craig and
Charlie Reid have managed to outlive their initial burst of fame and settle into a sustainable career that consistently produces album after album of the kind of amiable adult alternative pop/rock that brings lesser acts riches. Released in 2009, Notes & Rhymes is textbook
Proclaimers, utilizing the template of two or three rockers, a couple of covers, and a whole lot of heartfelt balladry. The brothers' signature blend of R&B, country, soul, and folk filtered through two of the thickest Scottish brogues in modern music is just as charming (or grating, depending on which camp you reside in) as it was in the late '80s, and songs like "Love Can Move Mountains," "Just Look Now," and "On Causewayside" prove that the siblings have lost none of their wit and warmth. While 2003's Born Innocent remains the outfit's best (and most diverse) late-period release to date, Notes & Rhymes chimes in at a not so distant second. ~ James Christopher Monger