Album of the Week: The Lemon Twigs, 'Do Hollywood'
by David Safar
January 02, 2017
It's all been done before in rock 'n' roll music, but that doesn't mean it can't be done again. The newest millennials to mine the foundation of '70s rock are a sibling duo from Long Island, N.Y.: Brian and Michael D'Addario have been imitating the sounds of classic rock ever since they could hold a pair of drumsticks and strum a ukulele.
Their debut album as The Lemon Twigs, titled Do Hollywood, leans away from the synth-driven soft rock that's trendy with their peers and instead celebrates the most familiar riffs and rhythms of bands like Wings, Big Star and Supertramp. Imagine if Harry Nilsson and Todd Rundgren had been born as siblings but were put in a time machine and transported to the year 2000. That's the closest I can come to explain the psyche of the D'Addario brothers.
In the studio with Foxygen's Jonathan Rado, Michael and Brian performed, arranged, and mixed Do Hollywood, with Rado contributing backing vocals, guitar solos, and mixing the first single, "These Words." Also credited on the album is the D'Addarios' father, Ronnie, who mixed "How Lucky Am I?" In interviews about the duo's musical upbringing, the brothers have credited their father for grooming their taste and talent from a young age.
The D'Addarios' genuine enthusiasm and appreciation for the music they imitate, combined with their playful attitude and rock harmonies, has attracted a fanbase that spans from twenty-somethings to Boomers. And their work hasn't just made Do Hollywood one of the best debut albums of 2016; as artists, the Lemon Twigs have become a sought-after band to see perform, thanks to their stage antics and their sense of fashion. Their successful first run of shows across the U.S. this fall has tipped them as one of the hottest live bands to see in 2017.
The Lemon Twigs' Do Hollywood is out now on 4AD records. The band will be performing at The Current's 12th Birthday show on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at First Avenue.
Resources
The Lemon Twigs - official site
The Lemon Twigs, Do Hollywood (Amazon - CD)
The Lemon Twigs, Do Hollywood (Amazon - Vinyl)
