T.J. and John Osborne have received the attention they hoped for as the duo Brothers Osborne. However, their about-to-be-released album Pawn Shop was a challenge to make.
The brothers grew up in rural Maryland not for from the nation’s capital. Their blue-collar upbringing is reflected in their country-rock sound with lead vocals being provided by 28-year-old T.J. (on left above) and lead guitar being handled by 31-year-old John.
The sibling duo credit heavy influences to Hank Williams and Merle Haggard. The brothers also get inspiration for their sound from Dwight Yoakum, Tom Petty and Bob Seger.
While music has been a part of their lives for what seems forever, John admits that choosing what songs would be on their debut album Pawn Shop was not an easy task.
“Some of the songs when you’re listening to ‘em, you’re not sure how they’re gonna turn out when you finally record them. I mean, it’s pretty often a lot of times the song that you think is gonna be the best song, the easiest song to record ends up being the hardest one and sometimes doesn’t turn out that great,” John shares.
“Then, there’s these little diamonds-in-the-rough that’s usually the last song you just threw on the session just ‘cause you had the time, and it’s just suddenly that’s the one, you know?” he states, adding, “I don’t know why that is, but I think that’s really challenging. I think every artist struggles with [picking songs for an album]. If you think of all of your life’s work being summed up in 11 songs, that’s really, really challenging.”
One song I’m sure they are glad they included on the project is “Stay A Little Longer.” Why? Because this week the single has reached #4 on both the Billboard Country Radio Airplay and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts giving the Brothers Osborne their first top five single. It also has potential to become their first chart topper.
The time almost couldn’t be better as that new album John found so challenging to pick songs for will be released next week, January 15th, digitally and at music stores everywhere. The 11 songs that made the cut for Pawn Shop were all co-written by either both or at least one of the brothers.
Here is the tracklist for Pawn Shop by Brothers Osborne:
1. “Dirt Rich”
(Brothers Osborne, Barry Dean)
2. “21 Summer”
(T.J. and John Osborne, Craig Wiseman)
3. “Stay a Little Longer”
(T.J. and John Osborne, Shane McAnally)
4. “Pawn Shop”
(T.J. and John Osborne, Sean McConnell)
5. “Rum”
(T.J. and John Osborne, Barry Dean)
6. “Loving Me Back” feat. Lee Ann Womack
(T.J. and John Osborne, Casey Beathard)
7. “American Crazy”
(T.J. and John Osborne, Ross Copperman)
8. “Greener Pastures”
(TJ and John Osborne, Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris)
9. “Down Home”
(T.J. and John Osborne, Jessi Alexander)
10. “Heart Shaped Locket”
(T.J. Osborne, Lisa Carver and Andi Zack)
11. “It Ain’t My Fault”
(T.J. and John Osborne, Jessi Alexander)
You can watch the music video for “Stay A Little Longer” by Brothers Osborne as well as hear the audio from the song “Loving Me Back” which features Lee Ann Womack with the duo below. Both songs are on the about-to-be-released album Pawn Shop.
I am looking forward to hearing the entire Pawn Shop album from the Brothers Osborne when it is released next week, Friday, January 15th.
By: Buck Stevens
