Twin Peaks – Strawberry Smoothie
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There’s no black lodges, one armed men or log ladies to be found when discussing these particular Twin Peaks. Instead, if you pull back the curtain on this rising Chicago quintets latest recording, what you’ll discover is a soaring, searing and at times downright sizzling platter of indie rock and power pop.
Aside from flirting with the likes of dream pop, jukebox rock and even at times (ever so sparingly) aspects of country rock, Wild Onion, the sophomore effort from Twin Peaks, is straightforward and guitar-driven indie fodder at its finest. However, what separates this record and this group from other would-be contenders is the manner in which they deliver their sound. While there’s still a lo-fi feel to their production and a presentation that sits on the right side of slacker chic, their delivery is punchy and powerful. For all the fuzzy guitar tones and slack-jawed vocals, there’s a sharpness that’s prickly and precise. Whether it’s in the form of razor wire riffs, quick tempo changes, hip shaking solos or dual vocals spinning catchy melodies, there are effective methods backing up the band’s good intentions. Speaking of …
A big part of why Wild Onion is such an enjoyable and impressive listen is because the band behind it appears to have focused more on making an album instead of just stuffing a bunch of songs together into the same space. Although the tone of the record is somewhat one dimensional, it’s consistent and revels in the fact that life is temporary. This approach is not new by any standard, but here Twin Peaks present this simple and honest notion in a manner that’s both smart and exciting. Tracks flow together nicely and at times blend into one another seamlessly, taking on different shapes and guises along the way. There’s a really fine line drawn between variation and consistency on Wild Onion, and despite not pushing some of their more experimental ideas a little further and missing a perfect ending point with “Good Lovin’”, you can’t really find much to complain about within the final mix. It’s fresh, it’s youthful, it’s energetic and although Twin Peaks are by no means reinventing the wheel here, they sure as hell are keeping it spinning with style.
