Webb Brothers

by Ben Sisario

Maroon is one of the rare albums that seems to come out of nowhere with such dazzling songwriting ability and musical confidence that it will make pop converts of all who hear it. Christiaan and Justin Webb--the sons of songwriting legend Jimmy Webb--are from Chicago, but have spent time in England, and it shows. They have absorbed Elvis Costello wholesale, and with Maroon, their second album, they have made a brilliant song cycle, a near concept album that resembles Costello in his Spike period: tight, clean arrangements propelled by lovelorn bitterness. "I Can't Believe You're Gone" is the catchiest, most righteously angry breakup song since Bobby Womack's "It's All Over Now," and the Webbs deliver it with strong, soaring tenors, just like the best soul music. A