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Reviews: Between Two Lions ~ Self Titled EP
Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2005 @ 08:25:11 PDT
Topic: Reviews
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Artist: Between Two Lions
CD: Self-Titled EP
Home: New Albany, Indiana
Style: Indie Rock
Quote: "We shall see whether these guys are a flash in the pan or America’s next favorite band. My nomination right now is for the latter."
By Derek Blackmon
Finally, my faith in rock is slowly being restored. On Indiana-based Between Two Lions' initial self-titled EP, it appears that talent, in lieu of flashy make-up (vis-à-vis My Chemical Romance and The Killers) and bed-wetter lyrics (reference your least favorite emo band here), is once again the new rage.
With nine songs attached, it’s a bit of a misnomer to actually classify this as an EP, but my job now is to write about it, not to change how it’s marketed. Don’t be misled, there are a couple of tender songs here, but the sad bastard element seems to be kept at elbow's distance.
The opening track “Walking Awake” seems vaguely familiar to The Wallflowers’ “Three Marlenas,” but Jakob Dylan is a second generation rock God, so this influence is welcomed with open arms. Lead singer and sole lyricist Brent Engle does sweet justice to what are seemingly introspective lyrics and Midwest sensibilities:
Is the girl of my dreams
walking awake looking for me
pinch me if she's there
if not let me sleep
let me die alone in my sleep
“Anthem for a Heartbreaker” will go down as the most overlooked and underappreciated alt-country song of the year. Don’t believe me? Listen to it and find one better and I’ll paint your house. This is the song John Mellencamp could’ve written twenty-five years ago, but he must’ve been too busy changing his name and lighting another cigarette. The fellow Hoosier could use it these days; he’s got to be sick of singing “Jack and Diane” by now.
Something about the melodious angst of “Twenty-Four” made me shudder. I admire a guy who can wax philosophical about his young life, but there’s something unjust about thinking you should be settled in your early twenties. That’s the time when being young is priceless. At this point you’ve learned to avoid the police, relationships, bar tabs and responsibility. These are the days you tell your kids about when you reach your forties! Ah, impetuous youth, where is thy sting?
The demo for “Slow Shine” rounds out this collection, and if this is merely the demo I either need to hear the final cut or this should be heard by anyone who’s ever been innocently in love. This is the most eloquent and beautiful track here. And they call it a demo! Foolish, I tell you. This is the finished product.
Trying to place individual influences on each song is completely unnecessary. Everything is inspired by something that came before it, whether it’s apparent or not. Between Two Lions’ website indicates that a full-length release is expected later this year. If this is the case, we shall see whether these guys are a flash in the pan or America’s next favorite band. My nomination right now is for the latter. Mellow rock is more inviting than a bunch of black clad, Revlon sporting dilettantes prancing about and whining how they had to get record contracts because their parents cut off their allowance and kicked them out of the attic. Mellow down easy, man. Mellow down easy.
http://www.betweentwolions.com
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