B+
???A chance encounter and mutual admiration has brought lead singers Max Bemis of Say Anything fame and Chris Conley from Saves the Day together to create a one-of-a-kind pop punk collaboration fans could only dream about.
???The problem is that despite all the hype, it proves to be just too much as the Two Tongues' self-titled debut is limited by mid-tempo, melancholic progressions that are lacking in any strong distinguishing features.
???Tracks such as "If I Could Make You Do Things," and "Wowee Zowee" blend Conley's whiney whispers and Bemis' raspy howls together with playful interaction that makes listeners yearn for more.
???"If I Could Make You Do Things" features a simple chord progression reminiscent of "Plea" from In Defense of the Genre, until drummer Coby Linder provides a kickin' wing backbone as Conley and Bemis lyrically flirt with each other.
???"Put down that needle now/ I wanna live life underground/ I'm here to pull you out/ Please don't turn away/ I don't have much to say/ Say it anyway," sing Conley and Bemis as they exchange verses with vocal precision.
???With an opportunity to distance themselves from their respective bands, Two Tongues utilizes the chance for further experimentation, while avoiding the over-intellectualized lyrics that Bemis has become infamous for and swapping lyrical spit for a slightly edgier version of Conley's extra sharp cheese.
???"Dead Lizard" takes a page out of the n?? metal playbook, sounding eerily similar to TRUSTcompany's "Downfall."
Not only sharing their pens, both have taken the opportunity to display their best Slash/Izzy impression and harmonize on the guitar as well.
???Taking this experimentation a bit too far is "Back Against the Wall," which plays like a white boy funk jam with a bit more fizzle than booty pop.
???Bemis, no stranger to using the synthesizer, should have known something didn't sound right, as the synth sounds as if it was recorded inside a steel garbage can.
???"Try Not to Save Me" and "Don't You Want to Come Home" take a turn down the long-winded road of monotony and repetition that made the album of Biblical proportions, In Defense of The Genre, an oftentimes-excruciating affair.
???Despite the pitfalls that anchor down the back end of the album, Two Tongues show the ability to craft finely tuned and harmlessly fun pop music.
???Bemis takes the best of Say Anything on the track "Tremors" and graciously adds Conley's sweet nasally nothings towards it's tail end, adding a sincerity that hasn't been heard since "I Want To Know Your Plans."
???Interspersing melodies and harmonics, "Come On" is a breakneck-paced pop punk tune with no apologies and a chorus perfect for mid-route rock outs and sing-a-longs.
???Two Tongues is a twisted and tart adventure into the minds of an enigmatic extrovert and a boyishly brazen storyteller. And while a few tracks would have been better off left in the lab, it's the creativity and adventure within this release that makes it something most music today isn't -memorable.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
