When I received an invite to review an album by a band called ‘Two Weeks In Nashville’, I was ready to join the Post Malone craze of country music lovin’. However the cowboy boots and chaps will have to stay in the cupboard, because TWIN have created a brilliant Indie/Rock sound, utilising regional vocal accents akin to the mid-2000s indie wave, powerful guitar-led anthems and masterfully written compositions boasting dynamic variance through every layer of every track to keep you hooked.

A band that previously supported The Hoosiers, Tom Grennan and Razorlight (to name a few!), it’s no wonder they put together their album with a confidence often lacking in indie artists. The album starts with patience - no rush to get to a catchy vocal hook or melody, but instead builds layer by layer to create a dynamic journey. Their identity is defined immediately with “Is there Anybody Out There?”, with a unique and raw sound that somehow conjures nostalgia without a prior listening. 

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“Is there anybody out there?” patiently building guitars, introducing a drum beat, before bursting into an anthem so catchy I’ve not been able to stop singing it since my first listen. Every section of the song offers something new, and the chorus is painfully catchy. As an avid fan of Indie/Rock, the track felt like an amalgamation of some of my favourite artists - Vocally similar to The Kooks or The Wombats,  instrumentally put together like bands like Nothing but Thieves or The Killers - I immediately felt at home. Despite the opening track being a clear favourite for me, the rest of the album continued to impress. Every song was a meticulously-composed indie anthem, demanding 

STICKMAN ROCK - ALBUM BY TWO WEEKS IN NASHVILLE - AVAILABLE ON STREAMING PLATFORMS HERE

Our recent article discussed the concept of a perfect album, and I feel I must say Stickman Rock by TWIN comes bloody close. Every track belongs on the record, the album flows effortlessly and there’s minimal moments of fatigue or boredom while listening. The string of songs following the album opener (Stars and the Moon, Catch me When I Fall and Open Arms) all follow a similar pattern of anthemic sing-along indie/rock. My initial listen I felt such admiration and love for their sound and identity. The shortcoming for TWIN for the not-that-coveted “Perfect Album” sticker is in their adamance to not veer from the norm, creating a collection of brilliant, but very similar feeling songs. It’s a tricky line to toe, and TWIN’s compositions masterfully maintain your engagement through the fluctuation in dynamics, however I found the album a few songs too long to avoid fatigue from the similar sound. For me, the record reminded me of ‘Tourist History’ by Two Door Cinema Club in the same sense; you listen to and enjoy every track, but in the end your engagement wanes.

Stickman Rock by Two Weeks in Nashville is an impressive display of Indie/Rock songwriting. Every track goes on a journey, and a handful of songs had me singing in my head for days after listening. I was left curious how the songs would translate to a live performance, with the Surrey group not fearful to utilise larger band elements to create orchestral climaxes. I’ll have to keep an eye on https://twoweeksinnashville.com/ and get to one of their shows. You’ll just have to keep an eye out for the review that will follow! 

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