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The Swon Brothers – The Swon Brothers album review

The Swon Brothers ā€“ Zach and Colton ā€“ were the first duo to make it to the live finals of The Voice US. In 2013 the brothers finished in third place with country superstar Blake Shelton as their mentor. At the end of 2013 The Swon Brothers released their first single Later On which became a hit for them on the US Country charts. Now the brothers have released their debut self-titled major label album.

The Swon Brothers is a digital only release here in the UK and is the first intro to the group that UK fans have had. Sadly we donā€™t get The Voice US here so we havenā€™t been able to follow their journey until now. This self-titled release is a collection of 11 songs and it has already hit number 6 on the US Top Country Albums and number 28 on the US Billboard 200.

On first listen the duo reminded us of Dan + Shay, one of the USā€™ breakout country duos of the year. They share some similarities in terms of the sound of their songs, the way their harmonies work and the clear crossover appeal that could make the band a hit in the mainstream as well as the country charts. The album opens with What Iā€™m Thinking About, which has a driving beat and strong vocals driving the melody.

Lead single Later On comes next and is one of the strongest moments on the album. The mid-tempo number features a banjo riff throughout and builds into a tight, harmony-filled chorus that is perfect for radio. Itā€™s the kind of song that will stick in your memory and youā€™ll be singing or humming the melody without realising it.

The Swon Brothers show their versatility on this album. They prove that they are capable of more than radio-friendly mainstream country tracks. Album closer This Side of Heaven, which features vocals from Carrie Underwood, is a surprisingly emotive and relatable piano-led ballad with soaring strings. The song explores the difficulties that many people face in life and it packs a real emotional punch thanks to the incredible vocals from Zach and Colton.

Elsewhere on the album the brothers co-write on the early highlight Songs That Said It All, they strip it all back for the superior ballad Breaking, and show they can do a good mid-tempo power ballad on the soaring Colder. Pretty Beautiful is the kind of country number that will get girls and grown women swooning at their concerts.

The Swon Brothers is a solid major label debut for the brothers. They easily shake off their reality show tag and prove that The Voice US can be a great platform when you have the talent to back it up. Zach and Colton have a natural chemistry and they are at their best when their vocals blend into gorgeous harmonies. This is just the start of something pretty special for The Swon Brothers and weā€™re excited to see what the future holds for the talented duo.

Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip is the owner and Editor of Entertainment Focus, and the Managing Director of PiƱata Media. With over 19 years of journalism experience, Pip has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world. He is also a qualified digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

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