****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
These guys know how to make records and they know how to write and perform Americana/Country Folk-Rock at the very highest level. "Twelve" is not a "major label" release, but I dare you to find anything on this record that would have been made better by a major release budget. The Berkley Hart combo makes for a very effective mix of different yet complimentary songwriting and performing styles.The Hart tunes lean heavily in the more traditional folk and country directions while, at times, delivering insanely clever kitsch/novelty song brilliance. The title track, in particular, boggles the mind with a seemingly simple track laden with lyrics that, upon closer inspection, will make you shake your head in wonder at the brain waves and endless pages of ideas that must have gone into this song. "Big Bad Barbie Doll" and "BFD" are also immensely effective, fun, brainy country kitsch tunes. "Rodeo Heart" and "How Could I Not" are classic, beautiful, good ol' fashioned country tearjerkers that do exactly what you want these kinds of tunes to do.The Berkley tracks take a different spin on the Americana genre. "Holding The Sun", "Heaven Now" and "Slide" are my favorite Berkley tracks and they all incorporate master musical strokes, mixing subtlety, restraint, energy and invention. All of the Berkley tunes manage to somehow blend varied musical approaches into seamless, satisfying end results. Berkley's voice goes down smoother than single malt and the sly musical touches add just the right kick to the laid back vocals and lyrics. "Slide", in particular, delightfully mixes different influences and dances right to the edge of jumping off the Americana rails with it's tricky rhythmic accents/kicks and chord changes in the verses, but the two part harmony choruses bring it back to center quite nicely. "Slide" also features some wonderfully twisted and funny lyrics for a love song ("Now I know you wanted a prince..You wanted a crown..Just lower the bar a little..Does it have to be so high?"). Berkley also delivers the best driving song in, ummm...maybe forever, with "Heaven Now"."All Roads Lead to You" is the one tune with the duo sharing writing credit with each other and it's interesting to hear what happens when their two writing approaches merge into one (very cool track). The outstanding supporting musicians add depth and beauty to "Twelve" without ever distracting from the material. Dennis Caplinger works his banjo, violin and mandolin magic (in particular, on "How Could I Not" where the harmonized violins sweeten the track so nicely). Doug Pettibone adds slide guitar wizardry with his wonderfully ethereal turn on "Holding The Sun" being the most notable master-stroke. A.J Croce adds a perfect dose of manic energy with his scorching piano work on "Big Bad Barbie Doll". The rest of the musicians on the disc (including, of course, the core B.Hart duo themselves) play with one voice in perfect support of the music."Twelve" delivers a solid and utterly enjoyable Americana musical experience all the way through...can't miss, sure fire stuff that you will keep in your listening rotation for a long time.Craig Yerkes - Music Reviewer for The San Diego Troubabdour
