The Lemon Twigs
Songs For The General Public
4AD
Returning after their previous release, ambitious rock opera Go to School, Long Island brothers Michael and Brian DβAddario get back to the basics with more straight-ahead pop songs. Songs for the General Public find the Lemon Twigs in a similar place as their 2016 debut, Do Hollywood, but with generally more well-crafted songs. The DβAddario brothers bring 12 tracks, inspired by their songwriting heroes of the β60s and β70s.
On βLive In Favor of Tomorrowβ and βOnly the Foolβ, the Lemon Twigs explore elements of β60s California pop, while tracks like βHell on Wheelsβ and βFightβ, are pure glam rock anthems, with songs that would have fit in perfectly on T. Rexβs Electric Warrior.
βThe Oneβ, the first single to be released from the album, clocks in at under three minutes. With its shimmering pop guitar and Motown horn chorus, it is pure genius from the long-gone days of Β AM radio. The subject matter of not being able to find a partner and surrendering to loneliness is masked perfectly with upbeat pop hooks and powerful vocals from Brian.
Perhaps the most haunting track out of the dozen is βSomebody Loving Youβ, which sounds like a deleted track from The Beach Boysβ Pet Sounds. The falsetto vocals throughout the verses and the densely-layered harmonies in the chorus is pure Brian Wilson. The synthesizer chord changes are almost over the top pop, but with the Beach Boys influence it completely works.
Songs for the General Public is certainly the most solid piece of work to date from the DβAddario brothers. Every track works and combines elements of AM bubble gum and trashy glam rock. If it is a sign of things to come, we can continue to expect great things from The Lemon Twigs for a long, long time.
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE LEMON TWIGS – SONGS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Ryan Sagadore