More Mellifluous Madness From The Lemon Twigs

If you had told me back in 1977 while I was blasting the first album by The Clash, that in forty years one of my favorite records was going to be a concept album about a chimp raised by humans who burns down his school, with musical nods to Big Star, Todd Rundgren, Leonard Bernstein, David Bowie and Frank Zappa, I would have called you bat shit crazy. But the impossible did indeed happen, and "The Lemon Twigs Go To School" was my favorite record of 2018. It was audacious and confusing, and at times, admittedly, a little annoying. But at its core was old-fashioned record making, songs with hooks and stunning harmonies, interesting solo breaks, rockers, ballads and kitchen sink production when needed. All of it, right in my wheelhouse.

The Lemon Twigs are back with record number three, and not much has changed in the last two years. Well...at least not musically. There is no concept behind "Songs For The General Public," as far as I can tell, beyond a collection of songs, though it is hard to ignore what I assume are intentional nods to many of the same artists mentioned above.

The album opens with "Hell On Wheels," and I wouldn't blame you if you packed up and went home before it ended. It's a twisted take on the Jim Steinman/Meat Loaf bombast that for me does not work and should not have opened things up. But then, I am not one of the D'Addarrio brothers, who seemingly do whatever the hell they want when they want.

If you exhibit a little patience, you will be rewarded, as the next seven or eight songs are some of the most delightful, at times beautiful, and yes, often twisted pop songs you are likely to hear this year. The Twigs cover all bases, with the Rundgren influences coming through strong on both "Fight," which sounds like a long lost Utopia single from the early 80's, and "Only A Fool," which goes back a bit earlier to Utopia's slightly proggier years.  "Moon" feels like it was pulled right out of Bruce's "Born To Run" sessions, and "Somebody Loving You," is a song that Freddie Mercury used to write in his sleep before the disco era.

Michael & Brian D'Addario are 21 and 23, respectively, and what they have created in the last 5 years is nothing short of astonishing, even if the music isn't quite as easy to swallow as you'd like it to be. Much of it makes little sense on the outside. Why the glammy album cover when there is nothing particularly glammy about anything inside? Why the silly Zappa-esque lyrics over a gorgeous pop ballad? These things might be speed bumps for some, but if it draws enough attention to what is really important, the depth of the record making, then I am all for it.

The Lemon Twigs are sure different, but most of the time, it's different in all the best ways. Personally, I don't need another power pop album that gets compared to Jellyfish or Big Star. But, I'll take one that sounds like Big Star doing Springsteen! Or Rundgren doing Zappa!

"Songs For The General Public" is another winner. Just give it the time it deserves.