Brother's Keeper

Neville Brothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 19, 1990)
• Original Release Date: August 7, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000002GJ5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,899 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

NEVILLE BROTHERS Brothers Keeper (1990 US 13-track CD album including River Of Life Fearless Brother Jake and Bird On A Wire complete with picture sleeve. This copy has been AUTOGRAPHED by Aaron Art Cyril & Charles Neville plus Mean Willie Green Tony Hall and Eric Strothers across the front of the sleeve in black marker pen)
** Complete With Certificate Of Authenticity **

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Musically diverse, socially aware, spiritually alive, April 9, 2000

By 

Tyler Smith (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brother's Keeper (Audio CD)

As the title suggests, "Brother's Keeper" mixes social awareness and messages of hope and tolerance with the Neville Brothers' usual eclectic collection of grooves. It's music that you can dance and sing to, but it also makes you aware that there's a world out there that isn't always pretty. And it urges the listener to get involved in that world.

The best example of socially aware funk is "Brother Jake," which laments the death of a character claimed by the streets. It rocks powerfully, with a gospel tinge, but there's nothing mindless about it. It's a strong portrait of a tough world that takes lives.

"Sons and Daughters" tiptoes toward rap. Charles Neville's powerful oration warns us not to forsake the young people, our lifeblood, whom he says are "being led to the slaughter." It's an indictment of indifference to the rifts in society that could one day blow it apart. At the end it strays from the spoken word, mixing in a spare, powerful guitar and Charles' voice rising toward song with the words, "You can't stop/running water/You can't hide/the fire that burns inside..."

There's also balladry that gives Aaron Neville a chance to display his unique sense of soul and his wonderful falsetto, in "Fearless." "Jah" delivers a reggae feel, and the title cut blends another testimony by Charles with the biblical admonition to "be my brother's keeper, though he be strong or weaker. I got to lend a helping hand."

For straight-ahead gospel, there's "Steer Me Right," which shows off the band's on-the-money harmonies and straight-from-the-gut emotion.

Listening to a Neville Brothers release is like dropping by on a warm Friday evening to hang out with a great group of friends who are never boring and who have a million ways to deliver a point. This is a neglected release, but it shouldn't be. Pick it up and enjoy a few grooves packed with a message.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our sons and daughters from New Orleans, September 3, 2005

By 

Preston C. Enright (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brother's Keeper (Audio CD)

It's the Saturday of the week of Hurricane Katrina. I was listening to the community radio station in Boulder/Denver last night, KGNU.org. And I heard the most stunning song, that I came to learn was "Sons and Daughters" from "Brother's Keeper."
I came to this site, and appreciated what the reviewer Tyler from Denver said about the song, how it's an "indictment of indifference to the rifts in society that could one day blow it apart."
It appears that day has arrived.
Thankfully we have artists like the Neville Brothers to help us through.
I'm looking forward to hearing this entire CD.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passes the test with flying colors, November 10, 2004

By 

Winchester (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother's Keeper (Audio CD)

I test music purchases in a simple way. You hear 1 good song, think about buying, but too many things just have 1 good cut. 2 good songs, OK, maybe a good bet, worth a shot. 3 good songs, drop down your hard earned money. Any more than that, you better not wait it might go out of print. With Brother Blood, Sons & Daughters My Brothers Keeper, and the absolutely great Fearless, this is a must buy.