Country Music duo consisting of brothers T.J. and John Osborne. T.J. is the lead singer, and John plays lead guitar.
Hailing from Deale, Maryland, the brothers performed locally for many years before securing a contract with EMI Nashville in 2013. While their first two singles "Let's Go There" and "Rum" didn't make much noise, they notched a major hit in late 2015-early 2016 with the ballad "Stay a Little Longer". Their debut album Pawn Shop came out in 2016, garnering critical acclaim for their strong lyrics and musicianship. Other hits from the album included "21 Summer" and "It Ain't My Fault". A second disc, Port Saint Joe, followed in 2018.
In addition to their own work, the Brothers have collaborated with Dierks Bentley and David Nail. Their sound draws influence from Southern rock and outlaw country, with particular notice on T.J.'s deep resonant voice and John's guitar skills.
Not to be confused with the Osborne Brothers, an unrelated Kentucky bluegrass group most active in the 1960's to 1970's, and famous for the song "Rocky Top."
In February 2021, T.J. Osborne came out as gay, making him the first openly gay country music artist signed to a major label.
Albums
- Brothers Osborne EP (2014)
- Pawn Shop (2016)
- Port Saint Joe (2018)
- Skeletons (2020)
Tropes present in their work:
- An Aesop: "I'm Not for Everyone": everyone is different and can't always get along, and that's okay.
- American Title: "American Crazy".
- Bowdlerise: Some stations censored the line "lay my six-foot-four-inch ass out on the ground" in "Shoot Me Straight".
- Break-Up Song: "Shoot Me Straight" is about the narrator realizing that their significant other no longer loves them and encouraging them to be honest about it.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: "Let's Go There" and "Rum" were produced by Brad Hill instead of Jay Joyce, meaning that the sound is lighter and less guitar-driven.
- Epic Rocking: Both "Stay a Little Longer" and "Shoot Me Straight" feature extended instrumental solos.
- Forgiveness: A theme of "I'm Not for Everyone":Some people, they drink too much
Some people don't drink enough
Some people are just like me
I hope y'all forgive 'em - Letting the Air out of the Band: The banjo line abruptly drops off in this fashion during the bridge of "Rum".
- Love Nostalgia Song: "21 Summer" has T.J. reminiscing about a past love who "made a man of [him]".
- Never My Fault: Present in "It Ain't My Fault":Blame the heart for the hurtin'
Blame the hurtin' on the heart
Blame the dark on the devil
Blame the devil on the dark
Blame the ex for the drinkin'
Blame the drinkin' for the ex
Blame the two-for-one tequilas for whatever happens next
But it ain't my fault - Ode to Intoxication:
- "Rum" is about staying home with his lover so they can drink rum and sit in the kiddie pool in their yard together.
- "Shoot Me Straight" compares an impending breakup to being served a very strong drink by a bartender: "Pour it on like a shot of whiskey and shoot me straight".
- Rearrange the Song: "Stay a Little Longer" first appeared on their debut EP, but was fully re-recorded for the full album.
- Relationship Revolving Door: "Stay a Little Longer":One more drink leads to another
You slide up close to me
Tear the t-shirts off each other
Your hands all over me
I tell myself I'm not in love
But one more time is not enough
One last kiss and then you're a goner
And I'm here wishing you could stay a little longer - Rhyming with Itself: The chorus of "Stay a Little Longer" rhymes "me" with "me".
- Shout-Out: "I'm Not for Everyone" name-drops Townes Van Zandt and Jimi Hendrix.
- Step Up to the Microphone: John sings the second verse of "I'm Not for Everyone".
- The Stoner: "Greener Pastures" and "Weed, Whiskey, and Willie" both heavily mention smoking pot. Appropriately, the latter also has a run time of 4:20.
