Album Review: Twin Shadow ‘Confess’
When I first saw George Lewis Jr. perform as Twin Shadow, it was on a freezing cold January Saturday at Over The Rhine’s MOTR Pub after the release of 2010’s critically acclaimed Forget. Coincidentally, this was also my first show at what is now my favorite music hot spot after moving back to Cincinnati a few months earlier. At the time, I had given the albums a few spins and thought it was pretty good, but really wasn’t entirely blown away. I found the fact that the album was released in November fitting as it seemed to be more thought provoking winter pop. Even the album title inspires visions of cold and darkness. That is until the brash Lewis strutted onto the stage with a rocks glass of whiskey and an outfit of denim, a black leather vest, and his hair swooped up like some 80’s pop star. In person, these songs about heartbreak and getting over someone were something more; they had a heartbeat, a life of their own. These were honest to god life vibes, like Donnie Darko wormholes connecting everyone together that night. Needless to say, I’ve been a tad bigger fan ever sense.
Confess, the second LP release by George Lewis Jr. under the same stage name, is not Forget. There’s a great cockiness, first evident from the album cover featuring a solo shot of George looking like a “Beat It” music video extra, to this album that is new. There’s some Price feel, some Bowie, some MJ…this is 80’s new wave and pop music sent to 2012 in Doc Brown’s DeLorean. And it’s done to perfection. While Forget had that breakup album feel to it, this album feels more like George is chasing whom, or whatever, he wants with that previously mentioned cockiness closer resembling confidence as you get deeper into the track list. The opener “Golden Light” sets the stage for this new feeling as the song continuously builds the chorus of “some people say there’s good in life, you’re the golden light? And if I chase after you does it mean that’s it true?” The second track “You Can Call Me On” resonates with the chase and perils associated with trying to get someone back with George pleading with lines like ”You call me on to give it up, I give it up for you” and “I don’t give a damn about your dream, a whole world that is falling at the seems girl, that’s what it’s supposed to do, it’s my only way back to you it seems”.
The first single, “Five Seconds” features George’s superb vocals at their finest as he screams out over a poppy back beat before he breaks it back down again and contemplating the closeness of young love with “Run My Heart”. It’s around the following song entitled “Beg For The Night” when you really begin to notice how simplistic the songs have become in terms of guitar arrangements. Whereas Forget seems to rely on a heavy and complicated does of the strings to drive the songs, the first five songs on this album allow his voice to set the tone. Luckily, it’s not completely gone as “Beg For the Night”, my personal favorite track on the album, brings the edgy sound we all come to expect to the album. “When the Movie’s Over” is another standout towards to end as a beautiful melancholy, ballad-like jam.
As a whole, Confess is a statement album that combines the emotion and feeling George Lewis Jr. brought on his debut work with a new confidence in his vocal strength. The brash Brooklynite has combined the sounds of the artists he loved growing up with into his own personal brand of music. You won’t hear many albums like Confess this year, and you certainly won’t hear many better. Confess is available today via 4AD.
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Written by Greg Dahman
Album Review: Purity Ring ‘Shrines’
Yin and Yang. Which is the dark half? I find the emotions that most of us suppress to be the most interesting. Everyone can put on a shitty smile and act happy all the time, but that’s not real. Worst of it all, social media is a non-stop barrage of inspirational quotes, “life is great”, and fake positivity. You want to convince me your life is fantastic? Don’t tell me about it. Otherwise you’re just one of the rest of us, filling a giant hole with anything you can. The truth is, I am not a happy person all the time. I’m not depressed and shitty all the time either. I’m a mix, as it probably ought to be. Life needs to be a good balance, not some one-way Prozac induced trip. Well maybe it is for some people, but we all need to deal with our other half at some point.
Shrines, the debut album from Montreal’s Purity Ring, is a dive into the other side of human nature told via electronic synths from Corin Roddick and pristine vocals from Megan James. The duo’s uniqueness lies in their style, or better yet, their atmosphere. Whereas Tanlines brought about the early favorite electronic album of 2012 with their upbeat synths and positive vibes, Purity Ring combine morose, morbid lyrics and thunderous synth beats together to weave a world of a fairy tale gone wrong. And I mean that in the most congratulatory way possible because Megan and Corin have crafted one of my favorite electronic albums of all time. This isn’t just a band introducing themselves to the world. This is running straight through that door.
Shrines begins with “Crawlersout”, a fitting introduction to the experience of Shrines in that it’s about darkness, or nightmarish evil, taking over. When your first song on your debut album ends “they’ll sew their own hands into their beds to keep them crawlersout”, I’m officially interested. And after that introduction, “Fineshrine” takes it to a new level. In fact, I’m willing to go out and call this the jam of the summer. A hot beat full of emotion and feeling, it necessitates volume.
“Ungirthed” follows and begins with a drippy beat and more dark poetry. Images of “teeth clicking” and “drying bones” fill an otherwise somewhat happy mood. But perhaps the most interesting track on the record is the longest one, entitled “Grandloves”. An R&B jam with a slow moving, heavy synth that stretches out the beat, it’s a duet that brings a certain dark sexiness to the album. It’s a large song that can be so big that it feels almost overwhelming, until it retreats for a split second with Megan pulling the listener back in with her vocals before spreading out again. It’s like watching the universe be created in under five minutes.
The second half of the album features previously released favorites “Obedear”, “Lofticries” and “Belispeak” which I’ve previously covered as they were released. In total, I will freely admit that this album likely won’t be loved by everyone. Focusing on the ugliness of the human spirit amid electronic beats isn’t in the general public’s wheelhouse. But for those willing, you’ll get back more than you bargained for.
Connect with Purity Ring via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Greg Dahman
Thought on Tracks 
Tonight: First Friday music in the Murphy Building
First Fridays have blossomed into some of Indianapolis’ most exciting summer evenings for local art lovers. Originally established to bolster the city’s under-appreciated visual arts scene, First Fridays have grown to encompass a variety musical events as well. Two intriguing offerings will take place at Fountain Square’s Murphy Building this evening.
The new Do317 Lounge will play host to local singer and multi-instrumentalist KO Noel. Formerly of Slothpop, KO has quickly established herself as one of my favorite new Indy artists of 2012. It has been fun to watch her confidence as a solo performer quickly grow since her Record Store Day debut at LUNA Records. Listen to “i will run while it’s dark” for a taste of the sensational vocal loops that will be on display in the intimate new space. The show is free, and Upland Brewery will be on hand serving frothy beverages, and work by local artist Mandy Steinbeck will be on display. Find more info at Do317.
Just down the hall, local label Joyful Noise Recordings will double as a performance space for singer-songwriters Richard Edwards, of Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, and Adam Kuhn. Edwards always puts on a terrific show. The show will also feature artwork from Kat Johnson. Check out Edwards’ acoustic take on Margot track “New York City Hotel” from 2010 below. Both shows kick off at 8 and space is limited. Visit Do317 for more info on the show.
Written by Rob Peoni