I have been on top of every Lemon Twigs record since their full length debut in 2016. I've heard genius and brilliance on all of them. The D'Addario brothers have more talent than they know what to do with and that may have harmed them more than helped, because not everyone has the patience these days to sit and listen to a record properly, and if a hook doesn't jump out and grab hold immediately, most won't want to wait out the strange characters, and concept albums about monkeys setting fire to a school, or Meat Loaf and Queen parodies, hoping to find a few pop gems amidst the insanity. What I am saying is, I love The Lemon Twigs and I have loved all of their records, but I totally understand why many do not, the same way I understand why Todd Rundgren has been so polarizing in his 50 plus year career. The Twigs owe a lot to Mr. Rundgren, for better or worse. In my world, it's their greatest asset.
I truly believe that is going to change once "Everything Harmony" is released. The Lemon Twigs have seemingly grown up overnight and what this new record offers is what I feel is the first perfect record in ages. There are 13 songs and all 13 are pop gems. There are no kitchen sinks to be found. No in-jokes. Just 13 often stunning songs, that evoke Simon & Garfunkel, The Mamas & The Papas, the sweeter side of the Raspberries and Todd Rundgren and dare I say it, a few big power ballads that would make Air Supply proud.
"Corner Of My Eye" sounds like a lost Critters 45. "What You Were Doing" is another Twigs track that seems very inspired by Chris Bell. "Any Time Of Day" feels like the perfect blend of pre and post "Saturday Night Fever" Bee Gees, and it includes one the greatest hooks not found in the Stella Maris Bait N Tackle shop in Sheepshead Bay. If we were living in the 70's heyday of AM radio, "Ghost Run Free" would be everyone's summer song, a #1 smash blasting from every car radio.
If you think I am gushing, you'd be completely turned off by my behavior if you were in front of me. "Everything Harmony" has hit me hard. Every song has pushed a button that has more often than not moved me emotionally. It's been a very long time since I have played a record everyday, sometimes twice, for a week.
The record is released tomorrow and unfortunately I cannot share more than what is available right now. There are inferior sounding live versions of some new songs, but I implore you to not be tempted. They will not do justice to this miracle of a record.
21 comments:
Suggested alternate title: THE GREAT LOST NAZZ ALBUM.😎
For what it's worth.... When I was listening to these clips two of my dogs woke up from their sleep and started wandering around my computer sniffing and more sniffing. I really like the tunes but the vocals kinda turn me off.
I was in a gushy mood upon their last release, which I played the grooves out of...can't wait for this one.
paulinca
They are so talented. Love "Queen of My School" (kind of Big Star?) from their debut, "TheOne" from 2018 and "In My Head' (Left Banke-ish?)from their latest. I think the problem for me is some (not all) tracks strike me as them doing a parody. But want to hear the rest of their latest, for sure!
Tomorrow can't come soon enough! (Hey, there's a song title.)
"The One" still works for me after all this time, so I'll definitely give this a listen.
Very excited for the release tomorrow but really, just the mention of Stella Maris Bait N Tackle killed me, sir.
I'm sorry Sal. I just can't get into these guys. Every time you write about them I listen to whatever song you put up. And I find I can't make it through the entire song, like this latest batch. Maybe I'm guilty of not having enough patience.
Gorgeous sounding record. Nice songs. BUT I would like to hear them sing in their natural voices. Those castrati vocals are a little much.
One has to wonder how you are privy to the album while the rest of us have to wait until tomorrow...
Randy
Another suggested title: The Last Lost Todd Album !
Randy,
I preordered the LTD vinyl from the band's Bandcamp page and it shipped almost two weeks earlier than expected street date. I was pleasantly surprised. I also wonder if it was a mistake.
Just listened through for the first time. The missing 1973 collaboration between Todd and the Raspberries. Brilliant.
Arguably the most enthusiastic review you’ve shared and after listening to the album twice already, I realize you undersold it. LOL!!!
Strong probability that I listen to nothing else today. At least until the margaritas take off.
Thank you again for introducing this band to me with Go to School (still in the rotation as well).
Wishing you and everyone a festive holiday and a wonderful weekend!
AFter one listen, this really sounds good, and I'm sure will escalate to great with more passes. Much more consistent (for me) than their other efforts. If they stick around, it will be very interesting to see how they evolve in the next few years - they've got loads of potential.
Randy
I ordered the CD and can't wait to listen to it! They were SO much fun live, full of personality too, at Asbury Lanes a few years ago. As always, thank you for the introduction!
This: "If you think I am gushing, you'd be completely turned off by my behavior if you were in front of me." Hahaha.
Nothing gets you ready to post again whole-heartedly quite like great new music! Glad to hear The Lemon Twigs restored your faith in rock n roll (and maybe blogging)! Looking forward to checking it out, even if no monkeys are setting schools on fire.
Oh and you had me at Air Supply, my go to karaoke pick when I want to slay all comers.
The Twigs have grown up. They have created an album that harkens back to a time when music was everything that mattered. They've stayed away from some of the more youthful choices they were prone to, such as the cacophonous middle they stuck into the beautiful "Hog" from the last album
The album is aptly titled. The meat of the album is the lush harmonies, string arrangements and French horn that populate the tracks. Not sure how the current crop of music listeners will react to this but it certainly resonated with this old codger. As you mentioned, there are so many 60s/70s music that this feels like. There's not an ounce of fat on the whole thing. This is an album in the true sense. It's one that you'll always play from beginning to end instead of cherry picking. The best part is that is portends even greater things as they evolve. They certainly have the talent whether it's as players, writers, singers, producers or arrangers.
Happy to see some positive comments.
@cmealha
Amen!
I'm on board! I'll buy it from my local record shop, but went to Amazon to check it out... weirdly, this is the only case I can think of where the CD is more than the new vinyl! (Yes, I still buy CDs ... America's last buyer of them)
Thanks for alerting us to this.
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