22-20s: Shake/Shiver/Moan

22-20s
Shake/Shiver/Moan
TBD Records [2010]









Fire Note Says: 22-20s return with long overdue sophomore record.

Album Review:
It always seemed that you could never go too wrong with a blues rock album that had a little teeth to it. That is why I was surprised over the breakup of the UKs 22-20s after their debut back in 2005. Well apparently this struck the band as a little odd also, as they have now reformed and have released their long overdue follow up Shake/Shiver/Moan. The time off shows some reflection on their sound and the current scene, as the 22-20s have placed the blues aspect of their past more into the background song structures. What surfaces to the top on Shake/Shiver/Moan is a much more tuneful record that follows a Brit-pop type path with strong melodies and an overall accomplished sound. Shake/Shiver/Moan by no means should be considered groundbreaking but its solid cohesion and memorable tracks show that the 22-20s extinguished themselves too soon and that more quality albums should be expected from this group if they stick it out this time around.

Key Tracks: "Hearts On A String", "Oceans", "Latest Heartbreak"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Coral
Oasis
Arctic Monkeys

Official 22-20s Website
22-20s MySpace
22-20s Facebook
TBD Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony