Music Review: Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs, Coulda Shoulda Woulda

By Melissa Bratcher

Holly Golightly has been particularly productive lately, releasing Slowtown Now! last month (review), and now reuniting with The Brokeoffs for Coulda Shoulda Woulda. Recorded on the Georgia farm Holly shares with Lawyer Dave (aka The Brokeoffs), Coulda Shoulda Woulda comes out swinging for the fences, and connects like mad. Songs of salvation for sale, dances to be learned, and an awfully sad Christmas are all here, along with some of the most delightful swearing ever laid to wax.

Lawyer Dave plays a prominent role on Coulda Shoulda Woulda. His hopped-up preacher affectations on “Heaven Buy And Buy” are at the forefront, and he sells his role. A cynical tale of cynical religious charlatans, the pointed lyrics cut to the bone and pull not a punch. It’s a hard driving, guitar-driven track that is both prescient and terrifying. He also takes the lead on “Jump In The River,” a mournful tale sung sorrowfully (in his most delightful, gritty sort of voice) that is augmented by a churchly organ. The should-be dance craze “Karate” is another Lawyer Dave vocal, complete with instructions and a jittery guitar line. It’s utterly fun (“and resume your natural speed” scans better than you’d expect when it’s sung). The chorus, in particular, is a giddy delight.

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs take on many disparate genres admirably. The title track has a rockabilly girl group feeling to it, thick with guitar and a sassy stomp. “Jackhammer” is a broken-down waltz, a dark kaleidoscope rich in atmosphere. Holly gives a lovely performance, easy and rich. Their cover of the obscure “Marijuana, The Devil’s Flower” is a wonderful bluegrass track, with sawing fiddles and a bubbling banjo. “Apt. 34” is witty, with a finely drawn portrait of people in an awful way of life, wrapped up in a drunken tango. It’s probably the only white trash tango ever recorded. “Christmas Is A Lie” has what you’re looking for in a Christmas song: chiming bells, virgin births, gold, frankincense and myrrh, wrapped up in heartache. It’s a great track to abruptly end a family Christmas gathering or to drink an entire bottle of scotch to.

“He’s only happy when he’s / cock dicking around” is my favorite line lately from the acoustic, he’s-a-cheater ballad, “What He Does.” It’s another frankly lovely vocal from Holly. If you’re going to be told that your man is a cad, it’s the nicest possible way to be told: gently sung with a hint of venom.

Coulda Shoulda Woulda is that perfect mix of things: lyrics that make me laugh out loud on occasion, excellent song craft, fine musicianship, all from a band that is unafraid to take chances. Coulda Shoulda Woulda, like Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs’ previous outings, is just solid. And wonderful.

Coulda Shoulda Woulda was released on October 16 by Transdreamer/Megaforce Records.

Tour Dates:
Sat., Oct. 24 BELMAR, NJ 10th Ave. Burrito
Mon., Oct. 26 BROOKLYN, NY Knitting Factory
Tue., Oct. 27 NEW YORK, NY Mercury Lounge
Wed., Oct. 28 BOSTON, MA Atwood Tavern
Thu., Oct. 29 PORTLAND, ME Blue
Fri., Oct. 30 NEW HAVEN, CT Cafe Nine
Sun., Nov. 1 ROCHESTER, NY Bug Jar
Mon., Nov. 2 CINCINATTI, OH MOTR
Tue., Nov. 3 CLEVELAND, OH Beachland Tavern
Wed., Nov. 4 DETROIT, MI Small’s
Thu., Nov. 5 CHICAGO, IL Township
Fri., Nov. 6 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Turf Club
Sat., Nov. 7 OMAHA, NE O’Leaver’s