The Twangtown Paramours have a new album out, Double Down on a Bad Thing, which released on February 4 on Inside Edge Records.
Core musicians on Double Down on a Bad Thing are Zamer on vocals, Lewis on guitars and bass, and Shawn Pelton (Saturday Night Live band, Shawn Colvin and Roseanne Cash) on drums and percussion. The album features additional musicians including Dave Keyes; Rave Tesar on piano (Sonny Landreth); Ed Alstrom on organ and piano; and Dan Nigro and Vinnie Cutro on horns.
The lead and title track is a catchy, swagger, uptempo blues number about the excitement of doubling down and a bad thing. It speaks to the core of devilishness in all of us.
The centerpiece of the album is probably “Talk About Peace.” This song could well be a protest song, and contains both deep observations and catchy rhythms. And it has some unlikely guitar tones in the style of Jerry Garcia in the mix too. It’s quite something. For a video of this song, check here: Video Premiere: Twangtown Paramours Talk About Peace
“Love is a Stranger” is another highlight to especially enjoy on the album, where the song traipses through reflections about rejections and longing. ‘Some Other Day” brings you back uptempo to shrug off the blues.
Although the title suggest a lighthearted album, and the music is celebratory, there are pockets of depth here. The central duo of the band, MaryBeth Zamer and Mike T. Lewis, have received three Kerrville Folk awards for their songwriting — worth checking out.
https://www.thetwangtownparamours.com