The sixth full-length album by the Felice Brothers, “Favorite Waitress” manages to avoid taking itself seriously while providing a striking presence for the folk/rock band from New York.
The whole album reminds you a little of Bob Dylan and the Band. This is particularly apparent in the opening track, “Bird On Broken Wing,” which is slightly reminiscent of the pairing of Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson’s guitars. Also, Ian Felice’s vocals bring in a little of the rough, scratchy quality we know to be Dylan’s.
The album is very vague and seems to avoid one specific focus, feeling, or idea. The tracks hold strong, powerful lyrics that lead to nowhere. The songs lack definition and the words show ideas of charming pointlessness and spots of tender thoughts. This is perhaps what gives the album an understated strength.
The songs display a certain degree of creativity in vocals, tempo, and choice of instrument. However unique the tracks may seem, they don’t seem to fit well together. The music still lacks glue to hold it all together, but it seems to suit this band. This loose style of songwriting and recording displayed by the group makes Favorite Waitress a nice, if unorganized, contribution from the Felice Brothers.
Grade: B PLUS
