The Watson
Twins have been gigging around Los Angeles for years, but they rose to national
prominence as crack backup singers on Jenny Lewis' 2006 album Rabbit Fur
Coat. That
much-loved album casts a long shadow, and the Twins' full-length debut sans
Lewis doesn't do quite enough to step out of it. But what Fire Songs lacks in flash it makes up for in
listenability, casting a series of gentle, ethereal songs that are almost
aggressively serene. This many slow, unobtrusive tracks packed together could
easily retreat into bland background music, but for the most part the Twins
keep things engaging with perfectly matched, smoky voices that excel on twangy,
noir-folk tracks like "Sky Open Up" and "Bar Woman Blues," as well as an
unexpected take on The Cure's "Just Like Heaven." The Watsons prove themselves
to be compelling songwriters and interpreters, with a natural, unvarnished take
on their material (highlighted by the album's warm sound). Their vocals can
occasionally become a bit limiting—as on the anemic "Waves"—and
there's not much in the way of hooks to catch the ears of those who aren't
already listening carefully, but those paying attention should find plenty to
latch on to.