By Ken Paulson
— Crosby, Stills and Nash offered up a successful template, but the merger of singer-songwriters in a group can have widely varying results. Souther-Hillman-Furay fell short of their promise; Bryndle never took off; the Thorns (Pete Droge, Shawn Mullins and Matthew Sweet) sounded great together, but that’s apparently as far as the harmony went.
And then there are the Hobart Brothers with Lil’ Sis Hobart, the collective alias of Jon Dee Graham, Freedy Johnston and Susan Cowsill. From the band name taken from the dishwasher manufacturer to the loose spirit throughout, the Hobarts are clearly in this for the fun.
All three have had solid careers, and their songwriting carries the day on At Least We Have Each Other. From the driving “Ballad of Sis (Didn’t I Love You)” to the sweet “Sodapoptree,” the Hobarts range far and wide musically, but are bound by shared sensibilities.
“I Am Sorry” is a world-class apology song, beginning with Johnston singing “Can you come get me at the Citgo by the airport? My heart may be broken and my battery is dead.” It gets sadder – and more revealing – from there.
There’s a healthier relationship in “I Never Knew There Would Be You,” a lively pop song worthy of Susan Cowsill’s original family band.
The narratives are compelling throughout, particularly, “All Things Being Equal,” a haunting song about the economics of the cotton market sung by Graham.
The Hobart Brothers with Lil’ Sis Hobart is a loose and loving collaboration, fueled by fine songwriting, making At Least We Have Each Other a refreshing change of pace.