Anticipating the release of two EPs this fall, here’s a look at My Cousin, The Emperor.
Listen for the city influence on My Cousin, The Emperor’s A Long Way From Home. Because although they are clearly a New Bluegrass band, coming out of Brooklyn, the city influence is there. Besides the addition of drums which isn’t true bluegrass, the city influence on “A Long Way from Home” comes with the electric guitar solo which comes in two minutes into the album, rips off a good piece of bluesy rock, and then fades into the background. On “Broken Bottle Blues No. 2,” the city influences the jumped-up rockabilly feel even as the song sings about Chicago. It also has this great smattering of plinking, barroom piano. “Justine” has a funky guitar vibe that swings the tune into town. There’s a 50’s rock feel to “When You Walk By.” The album closes with a rocking two-step “Regalo La Flor.” Definitely all worth a listen even before the new music shows up this fall.
