Brother Lou

WILDY’S WORLD CD REVIEWS
Friday, July 29, 2011
Brother Lou - The Devil In Me
Brother Lou - The Devil In Me
2011, Brother Lou

Brother Lou (AKA Luis Dominguez), is a Vienna, Virgina-based singer/songwriter, but his colorful history has seen him in bands all along the east coast2011 finds Brother Lou at it again with the release of The Devil In Me, his follow-up to 2008’s As Good As You Want. The Devil In Me is a fun mix of blues, folk and Americana that’s part Leon Redbone and part Big Rude Jake.
Brother Lou opens with the title track, a tasty bit of vaudevillian hobo blues. Imagine Big Rude Jake in a stripped down setting. "The Devil In Me" is a prayer of thanks that's counterintuitive but fun. "Can't Make You Shine Anymore" is a fun little number covering the war of love, the love of war, and all the amazing things that happen in the space between. The song is offered here in a wonderfully stripped down blues arrangement that is appealing to the ears. "Through The Wind" is a mellow ballad praising the important things in life (love, happiness, peace, friendship). The song gets points for intent and for Brother Lou's clear, steady voice.
Brother Lou sets an ambitious course with The Devil In Me, covering vast stylistic ground while trying to build a cohesive album that flows. Accordingly, The Devil In Me ranges widely, but Brother Lou manages to tie it all together in a fashion that, while not storybook, works.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)
- W Haskell

WILDY’S WORLD CD REVIEWS
Friday, July 29, 2011
Brother Lou - The Devil In Me
Brother Lou - The Devil In Me
2011, Brother Lou

Brother Lou (AKA Luis Dominguez), is a Vienna, Virgina-based singer/songwriter, but his colorful history has seen him in bands all along the east coast2011 finds Brother Lou at it again with the release of The Devil In Me, his follow-up to 2008’s As Good As You Want. The Devil In Me is a fun mix of blues, folk and Americana that’s part Leon Redbone and part Big Rude Jake.
Brother Lou opens with the title track, a tasty bit of vaudevillian hobo blues. Imagine Big Rude Jake in a stripped down setting. "The Devil In Me" is a prayer of thanks that's counterintuitive but fun. "Can't Make You Shine Anymore" is a fun little number covering the war of love, the love of war, and all the amazing things that happen in the space between. The song is offered here in a wonderfully stripped down blues arrangement that is appealing to the ears. "Through The Wind" is a mellow ballad praising the important things in life (love, happiness, peace, friendship). The song gets points for intent and for Brother Lou's clear, steady voice.
Brother Lou sets an ambitious course with The Devil In Me, covering vast stylistic ground while trying to build a cohesive album that flows. Accordingly, The Devil In Me ranges widely, but Brother Lou manages to tie it all together in a fashion that, while not storybook, works.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)
- W Haskell

CD REVIEW: In his classic title track HEART ATTACK AND VINE (1980), Tom Waits famously states there ain’t no devil, just god when he’s drunk. Going one better, in his latest CD titled THE DEVIL IN ME, Brother Lou (www.brotherlou.com) tells us there ain’t no devil, there’s just you and me. Whereas Tom (my hero) has a great voice for all the wrong reasons, Brother Lou (my other hero) sings out notes clear and majestic as a redwood forest. And like a forest of fine trees, THE DEVIL IN ME is a collection of some of Lou’s finest writing and performing. Drawing from some of south Florida’s best talent –
Turn where you will on THE DEVIL IN ME, there’s always something interesting to see and hear. Starting off with the title track, Brother Lou declares the devil to be mean and abusive, but at least he’s there (god is allusive). THROUGH THE WIND resonates with an acoustic whisper of Jimi Hendrix’s THE WIND CRIES MARY (Are You Experienced, U.S. edition, 1967). An amazing rendition of THE HUNGRY GIRL captures the jazz-like, carny-hawking magnetism of Tom Wait’s STEP RIGHT UP (Small Change, 1976). The emotionally vulnerable DON’T WANT TO HIDE ANYMORE tells us why it’s a full time job telling right from wrong. In the hypnotic WHEN YOU LOSE AT LOVE and the captivating BAD GRAVITY thereare vocal harmonies that echo Mick Ronson’s dissonant backing style for David Bowie on Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars (title track, 1972). And in I’M GONNA RISE AGAIN, is Brother Lou invoking Jesus or a junkie? There’s even a fanciful cover of Warren Zevon’s I NEED A TRUCK (Excitable Boy, 2007 reissue bonus track).
All said and done, THE DEVIL IN ME is another feather in Brother Lou’s cap. Along with his enchanting first CD - AS GOOD AS YOU WANT - and his six years (2004-2009) of MC’ing the Luna Star Café open mic, Brother Lou continues to bring out the music in me.
Robert Mitchell - GOTFOLK.com
- Robert Mitchell

FAME Review: Brother Lou - The Devil in Me
Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange
Brother Lou - The Devil in Me
The Devil in Me
Brother Lou


A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
by Mark S. Tucker
(progdawg@hotmail.com).

The Devil in Me right from the git features a gent with a huge, booming, in your face voice oft delivering a dark gospel of Sunday services imparting the sins of the world in an acquaintance so knowing that no preacher in the world—be he Catholic lecher, Four-Square snake handler, or Mormon hypocrite—could possibly have dragged his suffering carcass through those endless swamps and come out the other side as wise, cynical, and still perplexed as to what the hell is going on in this vale of fears. When importing a gaggle of session musicians, Lou's songs work best, maintaining an almost carny swing to 'em, The lead cut, the title track, is dynamite, as are several others.

With Brother Lou there's something waiting to emerge full-blown (catch the rootsy/ Broadway tone and arrangement of The Hungry Girl). Half the CD is dead-on but the other half falls short of what's so evidently lurking just beneath the surface. Lou m'boy, stick to the grim and nasty, it's your ace in the deck and natural habitat. As Frank Zappa once asked "Don't we have enough goddamned love songs yet?!?!?!", or words to that effect.

All songs written by Brother Lou
except I Need a Truck (Warren Zevon).

Edited by: David N. Pyles
(dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)
- folk and acoustic music exchange

Brother Lou
Musikreviews.com
The Devil in Me

The Devil in Me is a blend of different kinds of folk music; contemporary, alternative and can even fit nicely into the folk rock genre. Brother Lou does a great job as singer and songwriter. He is able to demonstrate emotion through his music and has a smooth voice that carries a nice tone. Throughout the album the vocals tell the main story but the instrumental accompaniment is the most entertaining.

The title track, “Devil in Me” does its job as the album opener. The listener gets the feel to the folk rock, alternative folk vibe. Brother Lou gets your feet tapping and the song leaves you wanting to hear more. The themes in the songs are very personal, often singing of love and losing love, like, “Can’t Make You Shine Anymore” and ‘ When you Lose at Love.” Brother Lou sings of life lessons in “Don’t Want to Hide Anymore” and one of the key tracks “The Hungry Girl”. This track is a warning to watch out for the women that will use you. A favorite line, “…you pretend you’re not home and she’s kook-aid through the door…” is an example of his lyrical creativity. The songs shift back and forth between love songs and personal experiences. Brother Lou breaks up the flow of the album with a short fairly comical “I Need a Truck”, a quick interlude stating all the uses he has for a truck. The second half of the album is a continued mix of personal experiences with another key track, “I’m Gonna Rise Again”. This track is nice showcase of Brother Lou’s vocal strengths.
Brother Lou has a sincere passion for his music. The album has a very self-reflective feel. The Devil in Me is a good album to have on the iPod shuffle or something you’d play on a cross-country trip or a day you have to yourself.

Hannah Carter- Muzikreviews.com Contributor
- Muzik Reviews

Brother Lou
Musikreviews.com
The Devil in Me

The Devil in Me is a blend of different kinds of folk music; contemporary, alternative and can even fit nicely into the folk rock genre. Brother Lou does a great job as singer and songwriter. He is able to demonstrate emotion through his music and has a smooth voice that carries a nice tone. Throughout the album the vocals tell the main story but the instrumental accompaniment is the most entertaining.

The title track, “Devil in Me” does its job as the album opener. The listener gets the feel to the folk rock, alternative folk vibe. Brother Lou gets your feet tapping and the song leaves you wanting to hear more. The themes in the songs are very personal, often singing of love and losing love, like, “Can’t Make You Shine Anymore” and ‘ When you Lose at Love.” Brother Lou sings of life lessons in “Don’t Want to Hide Anymore” and one of the key tracks “The Hungry Girl”. This track is a warning to watch out for the women that will use you. A favorite line, “…you pretend you’re not home and she’s kook-aid through the door…” is an example of his lyrical creativity. The songs shift back and forth between love songs and personal experiences. Brother Lou breaks up the flow of the album with a short fairly comical “I Need a Truck”, a quick interlude stating all the uses he has for a truck. The second half of the album is a continued mix of personal experiences with another key track, “I’m Gonna Rise Again”. This track is nice showcase of Brother Lou’s vocal strengths.
Brother Lou has a sincere passion for his music. The album has a very self-reflective feel. The Devil in Me is a good album to have on the iPod shuffle or something you’d play on a cross-country trip or a day you have to yourself.

Hannah Carter- Muzikreviews.com Contributor
- Muzik Reviews

WILDY”S WORLD REVIEW


Review: Brother Lou - As Good As You Want


Brother Lou - As Good As You Want
2008, Hollywood ACSEP

Brother Lou goes to work 9-5 every day to pay the bills. The newlywed Miami resident has more than enough on his plate, but still finds time to write, record and co-produce his own songs, not to mention performing live. Those of you in the Miami area might know Brother Lou as the host of Luna Star Cafe's bi-monthly Open Mike night. He's also been on various local radio shows in the Miami/Jacksonville region, but is just starting to make a push into the rest of the Southeast United States. Brother Lou's latest CD, As Good As You Want, gives the sonic picture of a singer/songwriter with roots that straddle the line between 1960's folk icons and Country/Rock/Americana artists of today.

Brother Lou's voice is deep and full and reminiscent of another era. I've spent a couple of days now trying to figure out who he sounds like and I finally figured it out. In the deeper elements of his voice Brother Lou sounds strangely like Jim Morrison, but never completely and never for long. This familiarity combined with strong songwriting and an easy presentation style makes for a highly accessible album in As Good As You Want. Brother Lou opens with Nothing In The Sky, a look back at the days after the September 11 attacks on the United States. The song questions the actions that people take on behalf of God and expresses a low simmering anger that will never go away. Let Go is the recognition that sometimes a relationship reaches a point where nothing you do is going to save it. Brother Lou's vocal delivery is full and rich and sprinkled with wit, creating a highly listenable and enjoyable experience. Hey Jesus is an energetic Folk/Rock song is about hypocrisy and religion; taking to task those who profess belief in God and Jesus yet act in ways that seem contradictory ("With the God they've conjured up what do they need the Devil for?"). Brother Lou mentions such public figures as Paula White, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and "Kennedy" in a scathing and witty diatribe you won't want to miss.

As Good As You Want has an almost Celtic flavor to it and reminds listeners that life is what you make of it. Elizabeth is a beautiful and highly personal song about the letting go that needs to occur when someone you love passes on. Brother Lou conveys the emotion and depth of feeling you might expect on this subject without sounding trite. Rain takes on the political campaign process and the shallow nature of both politics and its practitioners. Wit tempers vitriol in what turns out to be a highly intelligent and descriptive song that should be a primer for political science classes everywhere. As Good As You Want closes out with Black And White Kisses, a song about revisiting a lost love from film that's left behind. This is something of a tearjerker about someone who maybe appreciates his lost love more now than when she was alive.

Brother Lou is highly personal in his songwriting. Lyrically he's highly descriptive; this can be both a blessing and a curse at times, but Lou's unadorned arrangements and honest, everyman delivery makes it work. As Good As You Want is the sort of album that should do very well in folk circles and I wouldn't be surprised a few years down the line to see Brother Lou become a staple on the folk circuit. Brother Lou has a lot to say and a lot of stories to tell. Take some time to listen; it'll be As Good As You Want.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Brother Lou at http://www.brotherlou.com/. You can purchase a copy of As Good As You Want at www.cdbaby.com/cd/brotherlou, or you can download the album from iTunes.
- Wildy's World 2009

CD REVIEW: Brother Lou - As Good As You Want
By Don Sechelski - 06/19/2008 - 09:46 AM EDT
Artist: Band: Brother Lou
Album: As Good As You Want
Website: http://www.brotherlou.com
Genre: Americana, Folk, Acoustic
Sounds Like: 60's protest music
Technical Grade: 8/10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 8/10
CD Review:
Brother Lou has something to tell you and he wants to be sure you're listening. Brother Lou is Lou Dominguez, a singer songwriter from Hollywood, Florida. In the tradition of folksingers, Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, Brother Lou has a distinct point of view. His songs are brash, sometimes in your face, and honest. When you've listened to this CD, As Good As You Want, you know exactly where Brother Lou stands.
Brother Lou plays guitar, slide, and harmonica. He's joined on As Good As You Want by producer/percussionist John Jay Martyn and bassist Jack Beasley. Rex Blazer Jr jumps in with fiddle and Teddy Strauss adds some mandolin and guitar. The result is a pleasant, folk/Americana styled musical blend with Brother Lou's driving vocal on top. But Brother Lou's lyrics are the real story. They are direct, political, and sometimes a little angry.
The first song, Nothing In The Sky, is an atheist's sermon. Brother Lou songs,
"There ain't nothing in the sky
Just a cool, calm, neutral blue
Staring me back in the eye
And no one's walking
On the water
Or coming back when they die"
The third cut, Tonight, echoes of Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land as it opens with
"This land belongs
To giants now
That dwarf the Philistine
That rock you've got is about
As much use as a protest sign"
The song goes on to indict corporate greed and big money for distorting democratic values. He finishes by referencing the assassination of JFK,
"I was born long after
It was still cool to believe
Perhaps I'm even lucky
I'm not stuck with some memory
Of what hope felt like
Before November 1963."
As Good As You Want is not just about protest songs. Elizabeth is a softer song about letting a loved one go. Brother Lou's fingerpicking and the simple string arrangement are a welcome change of pace. Trampled Heart is an angrier song about love gone wrong. Black and White Kisses is a questioning song that looks back at a past event and wonders. But the loudest voice is Brother Lou's protest voice.
As Good As You Want is not for everybody. Songs like Hey Jesus and As Good As You Want will offend some listeners. But Brother Lou is direct and honest in the tradition of American folksingers. His songs are sometimes reminiscent of 60's icons Phil Ochs and Dave Van Ronk. With Brother Lou, you always know where you stand. And you definitely know where Brother Lou stands.
- Don Sechelski 6/19/08

Review from Folkwest director

I was blown away by the level of musicianship; my selection was a difficult one to say the least.

Dan Appenzeller
Event Director
FolkWest
- Dan Appenzeller

Wed May 28, 2008 at 08:55:00 AM

It’s been a while since we checked in on Can You Rock a Little Softer, the weekly Wednesday event that Miami New Times just named Best Open Mike night. If you don’t already know, the schedule is thus: From 9:30 to 10 p.m., there’s an acoustic open mike. Then, from 10 to midnight, some featured acoustic acts perform. Finally, there’s another open mike session from midnight to 1 a.m.

On the bill as featured acoustic acts tonight are Brother Lou and Matt Sabatella. A regular at intimate spots like the Luna Star Café in North Miami, Brother Lou’s music definitely rambles in the folk vein. But alongside the conscious lyrics come catchy melodies and bubbling percussion, sort of like Simon & Garfunkel taken down a few octaves and roughed up a little with the blues. And this past April, his song “Hey Jesus” (actually a bit of a dig at self-righteous “Christians”) won an honor award in the Great American Song contest, in the folk/acoustic category.

– Arielle Castillo, Miami New Times - Arielle Costello

Wed May 28, 2008 at 08:55:00 AM

It’s been a while since we checked in on Can You Rock a Little Softer, the weekly Wednesday event that Miami New Times just named Best Open Mike night. If you don’t already know, the schedule is thus: From 9:30 to 10 p.m., there’s an acoustic open mike. Then, from 10 to midnight, some featured acoustic acts perform. Finally, there’s another open mike session from midnight to 1 a.m.

On the bill as featured acoustic acts tonight are Brother Lou and Matt Sabatella. A regular at intimate spots like the Luna Star Café in North Miami, Brother Lou’s music definitely rambles in the folk vein. But alongside the conscious lyrics come catchy melodies and bubbling percussion, sort of like Simon & Garfunkel taken down a few octaves and roughed up a little with the blues. And this past April, his song “Hey Jesus” (actually a bit of a dig at self-righteous “Christians”) won an honor award in the Great American Song contest, in the folk/acoustic category.

– Arielle Castillo, Miami New Times - Arielle Costello

BROTHER LOU, “As Good As You Want”
Brother Lou sounds like a time-traveling folk troubadour who’s returned from the 1960s with a guitar in his hand and a message in his heart. The singer/songwriter takes listeners on an aural protest march, a la Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger, on his 11-track “As Good As You Want,” rife with themes about religion, freedom, prejudice, hope—and love. Obviously, the marketplace is still yearning for a voice of reason: Lou’s songs have aired on nearly 100 Americana radio stations, two were featured in the award-winning documentary “Anytown USA,” and his wall is plastered with songwriting awards from the likes of VH1, Independent Songwriter’s Society, Austin Songwriters Group and the Unisong Social/Politcal Songwriting Contest. Album highlight “Hey Jesus” (a winner in the Great American Song Contest’s folk/acoustic category) takes on the holier-than-thou: “I haven't read that good ole book in 10 or 20 years/But I can't recall you saying you hate single moms and queers.” “Wasted Time” scolds society’s greedy—“Every penny you take from the poor, every kid you take behind closed doors/Let the devil make room for one more when he sees the things you use God for”—while “Rain,” one of the best, huffs over political posturing, as the Brother sings, “It feels like November again, you can tell by the blow hard wind/They tell you not to vote, then the guy with the most votes doesn’t even win.” “Tonight” rails on corporate greed: “This land belongs to giants now that dwarf the Philistine/That rock you’ve got is about as much use as a protest sign.” Brother Lou also serves up emotional rescue in songs like “Elizabeth,” about letting go of love; “Let Go,” on knowing when to say goodbye; love-gone-wrong anthem “Trampled Heart”; and “Black and White Kisses,” a wistful love letter to a relationship obliged after it’s too late. With producer/percussionist John Martyn, bassist Jack Beasley and Ted Strauss on mandolin, Brother Lou (himself adding guitar, slide and harmonica) accompanies his American anthems with a versatile instrumental palette befitting the roots persona and ideal for live showmanship. “As Good As You Want” is in the top tier of an enduring, if underappreciated genre. Brother Lou is a man of the people who has earned due respect. ---- Cortney Harding Billboard Discoveries
- Billboard Discoveries

As Good As You Want 2008------- Grade A-

An exceptional debut album. Brother Lou roars out about religion, lost innocence, politics, the economy, longing, and ultimately hope. A bittersweet tale of life in a world spinning out of control. At his best, Brother Lou reminds one of Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Bruce. The music, sound, and pacing is right on; the brilliance of the album is most evident when passion meets lyrical genius, which is found throughout.

JD -- X-Mark/Monkey Entertainment - Reviews - X-Mark Monkey Entertainment

DIY Top Picks: June 2009 by C. Fike, G. Grande, R. Penagos,
M. Wakefield, B. Walker and L. Zimmerman
PERFORMING
SONGWRITER
REVIEW




Showcasing independent songwriters who have released an album without the backing of a label.



Brother Lou
As Good As You Want
“No one’s coming to the rescue / No one’s even going to say goodbye,” Brother Lou informs us somewhat apocalyptically on opening track “Nothing in the Sky.” But the Hollywood, Fla.–based singer-songwriter is not all gloom and doom. With an upbeat, jangly acoustic guitar and a voice as warm as the Everglades, Lou manages to lighten and brighten even his darker lyrics.

“Other than to each other, we don’t count for much,” he admits in mid-tempo ballad “Tonight,” while “Wasted Time” finds him delivering a scathing critique of society’s evil-doers: “Every penny you take from the poor, every kid you take behind closed doors / Let the devil make room for one more when he sees the things you use God for.” The CD’s highlight is, without doubt, the sizzling “Hey Jesus,” with African drumming and wailing harmonica setting the tone for Lou’s (aka Lou Dominguez) confession to the lamb of God: “I haven’t read that good old book in 10 or 20 years / but I can’t recall you saying you hate single moms and queers.” If you like your social and political commentary delivered with a sense of humor and a toe-tapping beat, As Good as You Want is about as good as it gets. —MW

brotherlou.com
- Performing Songwrit