The Twins of Franklin – This Life
These Minnesota ladies aren’t real twins but then The Righteous Brothers weren’t brothers. Together they prepared their 2nd CD of 8- rock tracks — there are moments of kick-ass & sweetness in equal measures to This Life (Drops May 17/Independent/33:00). Their voices wallow in harmonies but produce ample amounts of energy, emotion in a consistent gutsy showcase.
Produced by Becky Shaheen (vocals/guitar/keys) & Laura Lou DuSchane (vocals/uke/guitar/keys) with Kevin Bowe (guitar/harpsichord). The first “To the Moon,” has enough jabs that lead up to a left hook. The arrangement is loose & driving with remnants of rock’s formative years. When the twins sing in unison it forms a vibrant dual vocal knot that’s absorbing.
Harmonically they fall back into “Look At All This Life,” which isn’t fantastic, but it’s rootsy with mainstream sweetness to keep it where commercial music meets traditional.
Becky & Laura know what words require disciplined intonation; their phrasing is subtle & has a tonality that shows the difference between just singing & voices that paint with melody. This is actually what separates people who have a good voice but no distinction (something that’s consistently evident in vocalists who never develop beyond their voices).
The Twins of Franklin also add many strokes to their singing arrangements that make a song (“The Wait”) interesting. But to keep things full bodied they trade off vocals (much the same way as The Judds) on tunes like “Life By Design” that’s as cool as anything Abba ever did. But here their application isn’t as commercially cheesy. If they had another deeper-voiced member they could effectively attempt more complicated Beach Boys harmonies.
An attempt at easy-listening middle-of-the-road type balladry isn’t quite their forte. It’s a bit low-brow dramatic & something better suited for Las Vegas & a cocktail or two. Some voices work with full orchestras, some with small combos & others in a trimmed-down acoustic staging. Their voices don’t gel with authority with electric pianos & strings, in my opinion.
Though the song “Worry” does succeed because the arrangement is more country homegrown, rootsy & pure. Theirs is a sound that works best with sonics to excite their tight arrangements, crisp vocalizations & good-natured sinuous musical imagination as the earlier songs displayed.
“Stuck Inside,” is a prodigious tune wonderfully performed but…but…it can do without the whistling. The Twins of Franklin perform with clever power & that’s their motivation — done with a musical delicacy derived from being a class act. Quite a strong showing.
Highlights – “To the Moon,” “Look At All This Life,” “The Wait,” “Life By Design,” “Worry,” “Stuck Inside” & “All Your Love.”
Musicians – Joe Shaheen (bass/vocals/mandolin/keys/harmonica/organ/tenor banjo), Brian Reidinger (drums/aux percussion/organ), Tommy Barbarella (B3), Jillian Rae (violin/viola), Cierra Hill (cello), Patrick DuSchane (whistling/backup vocals), Daniel Koza (Euphonium), Chris Koza (string arrangements) & Eric Sexe (guitar).
CD cover photos courtesy of Erika Osterbur. CD @ Bandcamp & https://www.thetwinsoffranklin.com/