The Brother Stereo - "The Ballad of the Washed Up (and Seemingly Forgotten)"

Photo by Emily Joy Ashman

Boston's The Brother Stereo have a brand new single that might have my favorite song title of the year. "The Ballad of the Washed Up (and Seemingly Forgotten)" has a sound that borders on mainstream alt-rock but has enough flourishes to keep things interesting. The song reminds me of Frank Turner meets Wilco. It's has roots in folk and mainstream rock, but there are odd and unexpected dalliances into psychedelia. The Brother Stereo are becoming a go to for straight up emotional rock songs, and "The Ballad of the Washed Up (and Seemingly Forgotten)" is no exception. 

Frontman Michael Robert Kelly (per the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts I'm required to mention that he's the brother of Dropkick Murphys drummer Matt Kelly) says of his band's new single:

"It’s about being at the top of your game and being a human under a lot of pressure. It’s about the superficiality of the people you meet, keeping up the facade of fame in the eyes of the world and trying to relate to others... I just had Hollywood in mind for some reason and what it must be like for people who are so famous and desirable they can’t walk down the street. Then what it’s like to be the person who used to be that famous and the shit you get for not being as ‘perfect’ or ‘beautiful’ as you used to be. Washed up, if you will.”

You can listen to "The Ballad of the Washed Up (and Seemingly Forgotten)" below. For more on The Brother Stereo, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook.