Adam KennyThe Lemon Twig?
Till the Morning comes from singer-songwriter and lead vocalist of The Lemon Twigs Brian D’Addario. Brian made his initial splash with The Lemon Twigs with his brother Michael. The Lemon Twigs are far from household names, but they’ve quickly become a well liked and appreciated band. Especially their past two releases, A Dream Is All We Know and Everything Harmony. Both being very well received and adored for their throw rock pop throwbacks. Brian has ventured forth into the world of solo music with his debut album Till the Morning. In which he attempts to show off a personal touch with his solo project. Whilst the music is good, it feels like you’ve already heard it before.
A cool sound and smooth sound
If you aren’t familiar with The Lemon Twigs, Till the Morning will be a strong first time listen. If you have listened to the band however, this album won’t be mind blowing to you. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s obvious that Brian has a passion and joy for pop rock. Not only is he passionate, he’s very good at it. InTill the Morning, the title track of the album, Brian yearns for the bed of his lover. He confesses his love and how it provides a purity in his life. Being put in a trans like state where he forgets all worries and pain, at least till the morning. The lyricism continues to be a strong point on Brian’s solo work. Admittedly, the flow of the songs feel slightly homogenic but not to the point of boredom. It’s easy listening and that’s okay. Not everything needs to be a challenge and push us out of a comfort zone.
An old sound like an old friend
Brian’s brother and bandmate Michael is all across the album. It’s not detrimental to the quality or sound of the album. However, halfway through, you feel less like you’re listening to Brian’s solo project. You feel like you’re just listening to more The Lemon Twigs. As you listen, you might find the only thing singular or solo about the project is the lyricism. Brian’s speaking from a more personal note on the album. There’s references to his father and religion. It doesn’t feel like you learn more about Brian and more it’s The Lemon Twigs with Brian’s opinion on it. There’s nothing wrong with Brian wanting to continue ahead with this sound. It just means he doesn’t sonically distinguish itself from what the The Lemon Twigs have achieved. With all that said, I can’t complain about hearing more of The Lemon Twigs.
Hard to hate a pretty voice
Brian’s vocals continue to be something to love. His voice has this innocence to it that really helps tie the lyrics with the instrumentals. He’ll jump from good ole fashion rock pop, to something more akin to a ballad song like Company. Pianos and organs with what sounds like synthesizers bring in a much more serene and lush sound. The production and overall quality of the instruments are great. Nothing sticks out a like a sore thumb. Guitars come and go with careful thought and Brian’s vocals never let him down. I found myself enjoying the latter half of the album a lot more. It leans more into bombastic and soft lyrically heavy tunes. It’s more pop than it is rock and I found myself rather enjoying it.
A good solo debut with some familiar sounds
Brian’s debut album is not something to ignore. It feels less like a solo album, and more like a lite version of The Lemon Twigs. Brother and bandmate Michael D’Addario co-produced the album. It’s clear that Brian and Michael work well together. Brian doesn’t conjure a new sound that sets himself apart from what the Lemon Twigs have achieved. Nevertheless, it’s still a pleasant and fun listen. It’s not all old and reused, there are some gems in here. There are some ideas on the album that I’d love to hear developped by the brothers. Even with the short comings, I’d recommend checking out this solo debut by Brian. I hope to hear more from him and his brother very soon. Perhaps a solo debut from Michael?
