Fat Possum

For a group of musicians that had never even picked up an instrument until their 2006 start, the members of The Felice Brothers are unencumbered by convention above all else. In fact, James and Ian Felice have made a career of doing folk music their own way. And The Felice Brothers’ fourth LP, Celebration, Florida, combines textures so seemingly at odds, that it leaves the listener amazed at just how well it all comes together. But beyond the kaleidoscope of its folk-meets-cabaret ethos – complete with club-ready snyth-lines ( “Ponzi” ) and inebriated canters ( “Back in the Dancehalls” ) – lies an album of richly developed characters. From the boxer in training to the TV host reliving his greatness, Celebration, Florida plays like a veritable novella for the ears.