The Higgins - Real Thing (2008)

Well…there’s somebody new coming on board in 2008 who will make you forget about all of those memorable debuts. The Higgins, a family trio comprised of sisters, Eileen and Kathleen, and their guitar-pickin’ brother John, have released their debut album, appropriately entitled Real Thing, and it's loaded with exactly that - the real thang !! The Higgins harmonize in that preternatural way only siblings can, and the music is jaunty. The exception is 'Factory Girl', an a cappella tour de force that recalls some of Alison Krauss’s stellar work for “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”- it’s THAT good.

The lead single, 'Flower Child' has already introduced The Higgins to country radio from coast to coast in Canada…such an auspicious debut that the single and the supporting video have hit the top of their respective charts.

The Real Thing album is simply loaded with robust, acoustic-flavoured material, most of it originally created by all three siblings. They have a hand in co-writing all but four of the selections on their debut offering, and the ‘imported’ tunes are perfectly suited to the musical mystique that The Higgins deliver. Ironically, the album’s title track, 'Real Thing' is one of the tunes from outside sources, in this case a collaboration by Canadian writers Deric Ruttan (of Dierks Bentley fame) and Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw, co-founders of Canadian group Doc Walker. The song was a “no brainer” when it came to deciding a title for the album…just the perfect story…the perfect hook.

Other tunes from the album that will solicit immediate reaction include a bouncy, 'Sounds Of Summer'; the crusty, '16 Going On 30', a zesty, 'Second Hand Car', and winners like 'I Got No Time', 'Wild Horse' and 'My Way Of Thinking'.

To put an exclamation mark on The Higgins’ sound, and the strength of their album, one only has to listen to their cover version of 'Rhythm Guitar', a tune they have borrowed from Emmylou Harris’ 1985, Ballad Of Sally Rose Lp. The excitement from the voices of Eileen, Kathleen and John on this particular number alone is raw and penetrating…and could easily be the ‘sleeper’ item on their record.

Track List:

01 - Flower Child
02 - Sounds Of Summer
03 - 16 Going On 30
04 - Real Thing
05 - Second Hand Car
06 - Factory Girl
07 - I Got No Time (For A Little Boy)
08 - Rhythm Guitar
09 - My Way Of Thinking
10 - Wild Horse
11 - Hey Jamie
12 - Love In One Shot

Download includes front cover