August 2006

Pucknation dot com
09/03/2006
"Put This City On My Shoulders"
By GRAHAM BAILEY

2006 Self Release
Score: 7.5 (of 10)

Put This City On My Shoulders is the debut full-length album by the New Albany, Indiana band Between Two Lions. The band is following up their 2004 debut, self-titled EP.

Put This City On My Shoulders is a fairly interesting record in that it is coming from a band who are playing out of (almost) nowhere, but does not have a "small town band" feel to it. Between Two Lions are a talented group of musicians who have moved from the indie rock direction of their debut EP in to the realm of alt. country. This type of music can be a bit hard to play, if the band it too country it will alienate it's alternative fans and if it's too alternative it will alienate it's country fans; walking this fine line is what Between Two Lions does best. Their music, with it's twangy guitars ("Approximity affect") and sad harmonica ("No parachute") is definitely country, but the catchy ("Madeline"), though lonely melodies ("No parachute") are definitely alternative.

The vocals on Put This City On My Shoulders are well performed, to the point where the sparseness of "Attic flowers" will be appreciated just as much, if not more, than the songs featuring a more full sound. Lyrically the album is not terrifically written and at times it is a bit odd, but altogether has a quaint catchiness to it, which is best heard on "Madeline," which features lines like, "Stowed your love in an overhead bin, just above my heart/ Told myself that one day I'd need it/ But I forgot."

Overall: Fairly well played, with a good overall sound and good vocals.