Twinemen
Sideshow

(Hi-N-Dry)

First Appeared in The Music Box, December 2004, Volume 11, #12

Written by Brad Podray

Twinemen is essentially an infusion of female-oriented pop-rock on downers. This is not, per se, a bad thing. Imagine if Natalie Imbruglia had employed a backing band with talent, one that knocked the pop-inclinations out of her songs and instead bathed them in a glaze of purebred American country. That’s where Twinemen’s heart lies. Twilight is the undeniable highlight of its sophomore effort Sideshow, while Wishers seems geared toward an unreachable radio market. While the latter tune captures an elusive, dark mood without becoming overly depressing, its ultimate goal is utterly unattainable — even if it is admirable — due to the disappointing landscape that currently populates the airwaves. Throughout the album, lead vocalist Laurie Sargent occasionally yields to her male counterparts, giving the collection a freshly inspired perspective. The bottom line? Sideshow is an impressive brew of jazz-rock grooves. Just don’t expect to hear it on the radio. It’s too good for that. ½

Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2004 The Music Box