Artist: Twin Forks
Album: LP
Bitrate: 256kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Dine Alone Records
Genre: Rock
Size: 80.54 megs
PlayTime: 0h 41min 48sec total
Rip Date: 2014-03-15
Store Date: 2014-03-14
Track List:
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01. Can't Be Broken 3:35
02. Cross My Mind 3:34
03. Back to You 2:50
04. Kiss Me Darling 2:59
05. Scraping Up the Pieces 2:49
06. Something We Just Know 2:51
07. Danger 3:39
08. Reasoned and Roughened 4:14
09. Plans 3:35
10. Done is Done 3:31
11. Come On 4:04
12. Who's Looking Out 4:07
Release Notes:
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Like many, Dashboard Confessional played an instrumental role in my musical
upbringing. As a teen, Chris CarrabbaÆs shrill cry became the soundtrack to my
ever-changing worldviews, offering me guidance amidst a myriad of adolescent
missteps. Though those days seem distant now, the Florida nativeÆs honest
discourse has remained relevant to me over the years, and while other artists
have affected me similarly since then, few albums possess the ability to
transport me back to a specific place and time quite like A Mark, a Mission, a
Brand, a Scar.
So, naturally, when Twin ForksÆ self-titled LP blipped across UTGÆs radar back
in January, I nabbed it without hesitation. I had discovered the group this past
summer through a handful of singles, and was curious to see how CarrabbaÆs
newest undertaking would fare alongside his previous releases. Rounded off by
Suzie Zeldin (The Narrative), Ben Homola (Bad Books), and producer Jonathan
Clark, the outfitÆs Dine Alone Records debut, though not particularly
groundbreaking, is an enduring arrangement, laden with radio-ready hooks, coy
lyricism, and driving accompaniment. And while many will inevitably view Twin
Forks as an extension of Dashboard Confessional, after countless listens, I can
assure you theyÆre anything but.
That being said, there are points throughout Twin Forks where comparisons are
unavoidable. Playful tracks like ôCross My Mindö bound forward with the same
resolve as early Dashboard tunes, supported by gripping melodies and lively
hooks. ôCanÆt Be Brokenö expertly struts the line between cool and calculated,
ambling seamlessly from verse to chorus to bridge, while the modest make-up of
ôKiss Me Darlingö proves similarly effective. ôPlansö and ôCome Onö are also
fluid, and, genre innuendos aside, could have been right at home on 2007?s A
Shade of Poison Trees.
Although CarrabbaÆs songwriting has maintained its straightforward appeal, this
latest effort still feels fresh. Susie Zeldin is electric, her glassy swoon the
perfect complement to the 38-year-old songwriterÆs crisp bite. Skillfully placed
folk trappings, made mainstream by The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, and
like-minded acts, flutter about but never overstay their welcome, especially on
tracks like ôBack To Youö and ôScraping Up The Pieces.ö Commanding their
listeners through wrapping percussion and giddy handclaps, songs such as these
make up the backbone of the album. Whereas Dashboard Confessional was
perpetually contemplative and downtrodden, Twin Forks is a wholly feel-good
experience. The four-pieceÆs heading is clear from the start, and with each
toe-tapping refrain, the group radiates a sense of pride that is sure to leave
you beaming; without a doubt, they are happy and comfortable in their new niche.
However, this impressive consistency sometimes proves to be a double-edged
sword. This collection of work has its feet firmly planted, yes, but
structurally, each song differs little from one another. Despite providing an
engaging experience, the albumÆs latter tracks have a habit of blurring
together, and at times, I found myself lost in a haze of clichΘs. This is not to
say that I didnÆt enjoy all of the songs on this album, but simply put, some
just didnÆt stand out; I imagine that most will opt to jump around, reserving
their personal favorites for repeat listens and mix tapes.
Nevertheless, as a whole, Twin Forks is an achievement. Chris Carrabba refuses
to relinquish his role as a stellar frontman by shattering the stereotypes he
had written himself into over the course of a decade, and as a unit, the band is
a well-oiled machine with top 10 potential. Their bubbly debut, which hits
shelves today (February 25), will make a more than fitting soundtrack to the
warmer weather that is (supposedly) right around the corner.