One of my favorite groups ever. A duo from the Frisco bay, their guitar/drum attack has never been much harder than aggressive folk. No kind of play on the kind of Black Keys or White Stripes blues or alt-rock scene. But not Alt.Country either. Even while Adam's guitar was amplified acoustic mostly, his vocals have a punk rasp about them. And he screams way more than he howls.This album takes quite a turn. Maybe the Two have seen some kindred spirit in the Keys and have been disenchanted by their arena-rock turn to superstardom. But they learned a thing or two about volume, if nothing else. Tyson is pounding his drums with anger unseen before and Adam's guitar is now being pushed through some effects tube and a bigger amplifier.
But dumbing down, nor selling out is this.The Two still spin the log-winded yarns about the weary trail rode by those who need only the road. The loves lost and the green eyes of the fair maiden that haunt and comfort their dreams.
A couple tracks, "Decay" and "Broken Eyes" stay acoustic and lilting. The former a sad dirge and the latter something more akin to Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe". But the remainder of the album rocks. It strays from being perfect however. "Winter's Youth" doesn't add anything lyrically to the age old adage of aging. And "Willie", which will clearly be any inebriated audience's favorite shanty sing-along, is little more than mere silly fun.
The Two Gallants bloom more than they blight, but even their scars seem somewhat prettier in the light. (4 of 5 stars)
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