December 28-January 4, 2001
by Jay Ruttenberg
An elegant cloud of nostalgia hovers over the Nourallah Brothers' debut
album, threatening to burst open at any moment and drench their proceedings
in a shower of black-and-white photographs. Although Salim and Faris
Nourallah can sound so much like Ray and Dave Davies that one may wonder
whether Kinksy muses automatically come with band members' sibling status,
the Nourallahs' yearning for the past is not strictly a sentiment for old
record albums and other cultural touchstones. Rather, these very Texan
brothers (despite their clearly Arabic names) recall their father's thrilled
voice as he frolicked with his children, or their days playing soldier "by
the apple tree." At times, the lyrics may sound like lines from a Martha
Stewart memoir, but Martha cannot concoct a melody as heartwarming as the
brothers Nourallah, nor can she decorate it in the classy sonic linens they
weave in their home studio.
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