August 2006

Velocity Weekly
'Put This City on My Shoulders,' Between Two Lions
By CHRIS QUAY

Between Two Lions apparently went through a transition with putting together its first-full length.

Whereas the local quartet's previous self-titled EP presented more of a cathartic indie rock feel, "Put this City on My Shoulders" shows the band moving toward a rootsy rock.

And it's a refreshing change considering how smooth the CD glides through each acoustic guitar riff or pedal steel guitar wail.

Remnants of Uncle Tupelo's "Still Feel Gone" or Son Volt's "Trace" can certainly be heard throughout the CD, but luckily Brent Engle's vocals stray far from Jay Farrar's nasal strain.

The strummy, upbeat "Approximity Affect" is a solid uptempo effort, but the band shifts dynamics well enough between the sweet ballad "Madeline" to the rocking "Blessed Steamroller" back to a pensive anthem about small town influence with "Rain Parade."

It may not be the Between Two Lions you're familiar with, but nonetheless the band has taken a major step forward with a CD full of solid alt-country songwriting and craftsmanship.