This album starts off with “Never In My Arms, Always in My Heart”, and I have to say this is a very determined start that actually does a really great job of pumping you up and introducing you to the Lemon Twigs sound. It’s a very artsy sound that if you’re into bands like Foxygen or Of Montreal, you’ll love. But this is new for Lemon Twigs, as this album takes on a sort of Rock Opera vibe. Between the highly detailed, narrative verses and the big booming chorus though, I actually think this is really classy. It’s catchy, flamboyant, and wildly colorful. In a nutshell, this is exactly what I’ve wanted to hear from them in the past. Not to mention, some of these ridiculously passionate vocals towards the end are a knockout. On the other hand, “The Student Becomes the Teacher” is much more stripped down. All around, but it’s also strangely epic and unbelievably passionate. I love the wide instrumental pallet these guys are working with, they really are bracing out. Of course, these vocals are seemingly right out of a musical, which is exactly what they were going for, and they aren’t going to be for everyone. But hey, if you’re into over-the-top and fearless Rock & Roll, this is great. Then we have “Rock Dreams”, and one thing I do really love on this album overall is the sort of breezy and carefree vibe to this all. But more than anything, I can’t say no to just how elaborate and colorful this track is. Now, I do have to say, this is actually one of the album’s lesser moments as far as vocals go. Like, I’m really not into them at all in parts. But this album's very quirky narrative does really me back in. And while there are some of the most un-interesting vocals of the entire album here, they are passionate. And it’s still absolutely catchy. Not to mention, this album on paper is about a Monkey raised to be a human who goes to school, but I feel like there’s just a ton of more Socio-Political themes hanging around too. On the other hand, “The Lesson” is the most stripped down track we’ve gotten here yet. And honestly, I’m not too wild about it. Earlier, we got a slower track, but at the very least that one reeled me in with a series of very epic instrumentals. But here, just so many awkward quirks about the band just seem to be everywhere. The vocals seem so fragile, and that narrative that dominates this entire album just seems to be a little harder to grasp. Like, it’s touching in parts, but its moments like this that I wish this album was a little more straightforward.
On the other hand, “Small Victories” has so much more of a sunny and sweet vibe that it’s contagious. I have to give it to these two’s vocals because they’re so much more sure of themselves compared to their first album. Plus, this one has a couple of different movements, and honestly they all come off pretty damn smoothly. There’s also a huge Of Montreal vibe that’s inescapable, especially their early stuff. So many of these tracks are so likable, instantly too. Like, year, this narrative is a little convoluted at times. But I can’t help but to sing every word and have a blast listening to this. Then we have “Wonderin’ Ways”, and I have to say, it’s some of these light, much less lavish tracks Lemon Twigs need to be wary of. It worked at first because the instrumentals they were dealing with at the time were powerful and epic. But this one is ridiculously flimsy. Even the vocals are just falling apart by the minute. There are some classy moments and all that I do really enjoy, and this is far from the worst tune of the bunch. But they do really need to stray away from these slower, lighter tunes. On the other hand, “The Bully” takes something which should be a traumatic experience, and paint it against this very sunny and sweet backdrop. It’s beautiful, almost tropical and 100% contagious. I’m still not absolutely stunned by some of the more down to earth vocals. But man, when things take off and “The Bully” begins to sing, these vocals get wildly animated. It’s hard to follow the narrative occasionally, but to say that I’m still not having a damn blast would be a lie. On the other hand, “Lonely” is the soft track that I needed to hear right about now. This one may be stripped down and light on the ears. But it’s filled with beautiful harmonies and interesting instrumentals. Like, here, we get some plucked Banjos and strings, it’s actually really classy and interesting. Not to mention, here we get some of the album’s most passionate and heartfelt vocals.
I actually really love some of the more Rock N Roll tracks here, like “Queen of my School”. I just feel like this energy is a portion of Rock that the band’s contemporaries don’t really touch enough of these days. It’s a much more off the rails track for the most part. Even vocally this is on a different level entirely. Not to mention, you have to give these guys credit, I wanted them to branch out and do something extravagant. And this is just that project. Also, some of these breakdowns are ridiculous. As this album rolls on it just gets more and more animated. You really never know what direction the band is going to roll off into, and that makes it exciting. “Never Know” has some Disco and Funk thrown in, and man is it ever soulful and a fantastic switch-up after the last few tracks. Some of the harmonies here once again are really fantastic and heartwarming, and this on overall is just fantastic for Lemon Twigs. But it’s moments like “Born Wrong/Heart Song” that I just feel like Lemon Twigs are getting maybe a little too dramatic for me. This is straight up goofy in parts sadly. Like, this has been a damn emotional album, filled with tons of colorful moments and elaborate setups. But for the first time in 11 tracks, I legitimately feel like this is just way too much. I can understand a more tender track was needed after a while, this-this is an excess in every way. It’s moments like “The Fire” that I’m just feeling so much more overall. I love the heartfelt and dreary guitars and the simple yet effective singing. This one as a whole may be the most elaborate of the bunch, in the best way. It’s just such a dramatic track, but in this case I feel like the boys just really have thought this one out so incredibly. It’s easily the track that gives away the most about the album's narrative, but outside of that all of these performances here just seems to be coming directly from their hearts. Also, I’m still getting a gigantic Of Montreal feel, especially their “Gay Parade” era which is fantastic. It all comes off so catchy and memorable, especially in the second half with all of these unbelievably catchy vocals.
Once again, “Home of a Heart (The Woods)” takes things down a little bit. It has this sort of retro, Folk Rock feels to it that’s not terrible. But my issue with these tracks and Lemon Twigs going for these kinds of tracks is just that usually, this marks a loss for their personality. The vocals here are soaring and sound just fine, and the instrumental is mighty elegant. But I feel like it’s in moments like this that we lose a little something from their personality. That’s just me though, you may dig on this because these harmonies are to die for. But I’m tons more into “This Is My Tree”. It’s swanky and sleazy, and this one is just so freakin’ alive and fun with Rock N Roll. There’s obviously some Glam Rock in here too, and it comes off really flashy and fantastic. In general, the band’s energy on this track is fantastic. And even more than that, there just seems to be this positivity here which is truly appreciated. On the other hand, “If You Give Enough” is a very elegant and refined tune. Like, it begins to really wind down this “music” really well. But instrumentally, I just feel like this has so much potential to be so much bigger and better, not to mention animated. And it’s a shame because this one as a whole has tons of potential and some really sweet harmonies that I really love. But sadly, of all of the album’s singles, this hits me the least. On the other hand, “Go To School” is just the sort of campy, over-the-top and highly animated track I wanted to hear as a finale. This is practically a jingle, one that’s crammed with personality. Hell, it’s practically goofy in parts. But for some reason, this does wonderfully at wrapping this album up.
Rating: 8.0/10
Give A Listen To: “The Student Becomes the Teacher”, “Small Victories”, “Lonely”, “The Fire”
Least Favorite Track: “Born Wrong/Heart Song”
Genre: Psychedelic Pop / Baroque Pop / Rock N Roll / Psychedelic Rock / Rock Opera
Overall Thoughts: For the last few years, I’ve been sitting around waiting for The Lemon Twigs to really take off. They had a great sound to start with, that was obvious. But with “Go To School” the band completely take things up a notch, with a quirky story and insanely colorful production. Each instrumental is just packed with wild imagery, and for the first time the band just seem to really be putting their vision to paper more than ever. The result is some of the most genuinely catchy and memorable Pop Rock tunes of the year. Now, yes, the narrative occasionally gets a little muddled, and the vocals on maybe one or two tracks are a little iffy. And yes, some of the lighter tunes here lack the wonderful personality the rest of this album has. But still, this isn’t just the best collection of sounds Lemon Twigs have put together by far, it’s a collection of some of the most colorful and instantaneous Rock tracks I’ve heard all year.
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