On their 2nd album, A DATE WITH THE EVERLY BROTHERS, they rarely deviate from their well proven vocal approach.
Although they dabbled with a bit of Rock & Roll (as shown here on their own unique reading of "Lucille"), their music
wasn't as rebellious as the early rockabilly outlaws and had more in common with the safer pop artists of the 1950s.
The Everly's seemed to be selling a more innocent take on young love in contrast to Elvis' more passionate and
subversively sexual pleadings to his young female audience.
Thanks to the contributions of songwriters like Boudleaux & Felice Bryant (who wrote 5 songs for this record), the
Everly's have a good selection of well crafted songs to work from. One of those songs, "Love Hurts", has been covered
countless times since the Everly's recorded their rendition. Still, it is interesting to behold how well their
harmonies suit this now classic song.
It took me a few spins of this album before I could come to terms the sweet innocence of the Everly's sound. I won't
run screaming if I hear this again, but it's just a little too "nice" for my taste. If they had been willing to
change up their approach a little at times, I might have found them to be more intriguing. Instead, they play it very
safe on all fronts.
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