From musical harmony to marital harmony, Drew & Ellie Holcomb have been making music together since 2005. From their time together in Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors (2005-2012) to their solo material, the Holcomb's have released well over fifteen albums between them. So count me surprised to learn that Memory Bank would be the first full album of material they have recorded together as a duo. It's been worth the wait.

Memory Bank is a thirteen-track release with sounds covering rootsy Americana, bluesy rock, folk, and even traces of Motown. Due to the wide array of sounds mixing in, the record has the feel of an old-time classic. Highlights here are plentiful, and they start immediately with the rollicking opener, "Memory Bank;" the old school groove found in "Rain or Shine;" the sway-inducing slow jam "High Seas;" and the country ballad, "Maybe You Will." Laudably, the first and only skippable song in the mix is their cover of Walk the Moon's dance hit, "Shut Up and Dance." Their take on it is passable, but because it's a song they didn't pen themselves, it pales in quality to those surrounding it.

Truly my favorite run of songs starts immediately after that skip, so the duo gets things right back on track with the playful and simmering "You Drive Me Crazy." That one must have been a blast to write as they gently poke fun at the habits that drive each other crazy. Next is the fantastic two mid-tempo previously released singles, "Bones" and "Brick By Brick," the latter of which is my pick for the top track of the whole record. The chorus of "Brick by Brick" features a favorite lyrical moment as the couple sings sincerely, "Brick by brick/You're taking this wall apart/It took me years to build that fortress/Around my broken heart/But your patient hand/Goes stone by stone/Pain can build a prison/But your love's making me a home."

Additionally, the acoustic guitar strum, and the catchy electric guitar lead line, carry "We Can Go Dancing" forward with a sweetness about it. Paired with their incredibly tight harmony, this is a song I could picture listening to on a slow car drive across Texas with the windows down. Tenderness abounds on "Silver Thread," as well as "Carry the Water," which closes a solid album with the lyrical encouragement, "make yourself low/buy you a lantern/so you can wrestle with the angel while you’re still bleeding/carry the water/listen to the melody/make yourself a lover of the mysteries."

All in all, I enjoyed Memory Bank enough to keep coming back to it, especially the second half of the record. This is one I can see making a play for Top 10 status by year's end. It's clear that with their veteran status as musicians, their chemistry as a couple, and a strong batch of songs, the Holcomb's have a hit on their hands here. This is one for fans of strong songwriting, harmony, and a buffet of musical genres, all of which they nail expertly. The relational and musical warmth is palpable, making it an easy one to recommend.

- Review date: 1/23/25, written by Josh Balogh of Jesusfreakhideout.com