Dallas–based Edie Brickell & New Bohemians first earned national acclaim with their breakthrough debut album, 1988’s delightful Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, which featured a terrific hit single, “What I Am.” Unfortunately, that success was fleeting, and split soon after releasing their second album. Although they would reunite in secret in 2000 and release a recording of that session, they would not publicly reunite until 2006, returning with a proper third album, the underrated Stranger Things, before returning to their various projects. Last year, though, they reunited for a reunion series as a benefit for a Dallas area music school, and while rehearsing for the show they discovered a renewed chemistry, and decided to stick together after the show. In a mammoth weeklong session, they wrote and recorded what would be their fourth proper album, Rocket, which was released last week.
Rocket is a light and breezy affair, one that fluctuates with styles and it captures a band being very curious about what they can do. Surprisingly, such a loose and fluid and open-ended creative spurt resulted in a fantastic little record, one that captures the essence of the band’s best work while never sounding like a group resting too heavily on its laurels. The entire album is fantastic, but I especially enjoy the song “Tell Me.” It starts off quiet and introspective, but then, like the sunrise, Brickell’s singing comes in and brightens everything up. Throw in some terrifically understated blues– rock licks and the result is an enjoyable number and a great return from a superb yet underrated talent.
The Recoup 
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