30music.com Review

January 2007

Between Two Lions
"Put This City On My Shoulders" (CD)

released in 2006
Label: self-released
http://www.betweentwolions.com/

A lot of great music was released in 2006 and the accolades were well
distributed, but let's hope that the recognition and praise was doted
upon those who truly deserved it. Between Two Lions' sophomore release
is among the albums which honestly warrants this praise. The record,
titled Put This City On My Shoulders, blurs the line between
alt-country and rock to find a happy, retrospective sound much in the
way of Wilco or Son Volt.

Lyrically, the album presents a solid storyline, indicating the depth
and emotional connection that Between Two Lion's lyricist and
vocalist, Brent Engle, has to his music. Rather than poorly
paraphrasing the lovely description on their press release, it makes
more sense to allow the words to speak for themselves: "The album
tells the story of someone growing up in a small town; leaving to
explore the world; then returning, resigned to the fact that he can
never truly leave; and finally embracing that fact." Put This City On
My Shoulders has a relaxed, twangy sound that immediately sedates the
listener to cozy into the world that Between Two Lions has created.
The music is eclectic and well delivered within the confines of the
alt-country genre; it fits comfortably into an indie alt-country
category but still plays around with the conventions.

Engle, along with Eric Moore, and brothers Tim and Todd Corley all
hail from New Albany, Indiana, giving their sound that small town
texture, adding intimacy where you might not find it in a major
"Nashville" release. With the lyrical connectivity amidst the tracks,
one feels the spirit and wholeheartedness of the entire album, and the
transitions are smooth and keep the album from feeling jerky or
interrupted.

Since each track has its place in the storyline that Put This City On
My Shoulders carefully and creatively narrates, it's hard to find
individual tracks to label as "stand out." The familiarity that one
has with the album while listening to tracks like "Rain
Parade,"Controlled Burn," and "No Parachute" almost feels as though
innermost insecurities and personal problems are being divulged in
trust. In that regard, the album is very relatable. Each of the tracks
provides something tangible for the listener to emotionally grab a
hold of and squeeze tightly, finding comfort knowing that someone else
has had the same experience in trying to find their place in the world
outside of a notion of home.

Between Two Lions has done an excellent job of placing the human
experience to music. There was no better style to convey this with
than the one that they, along with producer Duane Lundy, have so
specifically and thoughtfully created.

-30-

Review written on 2007/01/02 by Anika Henrikson