The D’Addario brothers are back with another batch of generous pop songs, steeped in bold influences.
Each time, it’s the same story: with every release by the two Long Island brothers, the hunt for influences and their cataloging resumes with renewed vigor, a kind of rite of passage before the conversation begins, the prerequisite for opening the debates. A habit that never fails to yield honey for the detractors, the joy for the worshippers, not to mention purists who swell the ranks on both sides.
Yes, there’s no shortage of Beatles in any era. No, the Beach Boys wave isn’t about to fade. And naturally the twelve-strings ring out like those of the Byrds, while the Big Star method continues to inspire imitators. The plainer the reference, the less the D’Addario brothers hold back. Brian and Michael are players.
An undeniable mastery of composition
On Look For Your Mind!, the sixth album in ten years, their doggedness is admirable. Again, there’s no pose, no overt homage or cheap pastiche, but a sequence of songs written, played, and recorded with overflowing passion, blended with an undeniable mastery of the art of songwriting. As is often the case, the tracks give the impression of having been rediscovered on old tapes unearthed from Gold Star or Abbey Road studios, even though they were crafted in a small Brooklyn room, packed with instruments and all kinds of recording gear.
The two brothers have also had to sort through their analog mess to welcome this time the musicians who accompany them on tour, Reza Matin (drums) and Danny Ayala (bass), as well as bassist Eva Chambers, met through the New York trio Tchotchke, whose two albums were produced by Brian and Michael D’Addario.
Fueled by this new dynamic and the contagious energy of the live shows, the Lemon Twigs’ sophisticated pop erupts once again (Nothin’ But You, Yeah I Do) and the impeccable opening track, among others). “Watch your mind!”, they urge, in reference to the album’s title. One can expect to revel in Hamburg’s sultry clubs (Bring You Down), drift at dawn toward St. John’s Wood (the superb Joy and its George Martin-esque arrangements), and even trip on the heights of Laurel Canyon (Your True Enemy). Each time, it’s the same song. Here’s hoping it lasts.
Look For Your Mind! (Captured Tracks/Modulor). Release on May 8.
