Twang - 10:20 - Review

Twang - 10:20

by Dave Goodwin

published: 31 / 10 / 2012

Label: Jump The Cut
Format: CD

Anthemic and political indie pop on excellent album from critically abused Birmingham-based band, the Twang

Review

The Twang release their third album to date with '10:20', which was recorded in their own studio with the help of Jon Simcox. The band, which comprises of vocalist and guitarist Phil Etheridge, guitarist Stu Hartland, bassist Jon Watkins, vocalist Martin Saunders and new drummer Ash Sheehan, have not had it easy over the years since forming in 2001 and adorning the cover of the 'NME' in 2007 at the time of their first album, 'Love It When I Feel Like This'. They were slated for their 2009 second album. 'Jewellery Quarter'. So much so that 'The Guardian' remarked that they would never see their third album!! It makes me wonder at times why some quarters bother to open their minds at all. I know we've all got our own ideas and thoughts but why be so negative, especially to a band that quite bluntly are pretty good actually? '10:20' is packed full of indie pop songs and anthems. As you go through it from start to finish it's like a good bottle of red wine. The bouquet lends itself to the Inspiral Carpets with echoes of the Happy Mondays. There is also even the odd scent of Dodgy mingling with the polished body of Beatles and every now and again wafting the pallet as well is what can only be described as the Twang. Whatever their critics said back then that they hadn't got, I'm hoping they've changed their mind now with this one. 'Neptune', the opening track is a forty four second number with spoken word and distant harmony that gives us a quick glimpse of what's to come. But, however, having said that I wasn't expecting a ska based beat with the next track, 'The Mainline'. The chorus line of "You aint got nothing if you aint got love" moves into dark searching lyrics surrounding politics and today’s sociological problems. With lines though such as "Someone needs to get a backbone cos someone's taking the piss", I couldn't but help think of Plan B combining with OI. The band reminisces about riots in 'We're a Crowd', especially with the wailing chorus line of "This is our town and we live here". It takes us on to one of my favourites on the disc, 'Take This On', which has anthemic melodies that any indie act would die for. It is if they are casting a wry grin on those who dissed them back then with both 'Last Laugh', which steals in with more great indie rhythms, and then the Beatles-esque 'Paradise' 'Tomorrow' is a brilliant version of the Duritti Column number. 'It Aint You' is another of what I think to be the strongest tracks here along with the last track 'Strangers', which has harmonious finger-snapping lush harmonies. All in all, this will shut a few people up. Although some are going to say it's a little safe in places, giving way to common political themes, but for me it moves along nicely with some intriguing lyrical content regarding the strifes and struggles a lot of us have to deal with. It is also highly listenable to anyone's frame of mind. Good stuff.

Track Listing:-

1 Neptune
2 Mainline
3 We're a Crowd
4 Take This On
5 Last Laugh
6 Beer, Wine & Sunshine
7 Paradise
8 Whoa Man
9 Tomorrow
10 It Ain't you
11 Guapa
12 Strangers