Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 3.5 / 5 Reviewer: Andrew Mitchell |
Releasing an album of live, stripped down interpretations of songs recognized for their electronically amplified bar rock nature can be a double edged sword. Core song structure is unveiled and the musicians’ ability to raise their interpretive game is highly put to task. On the plus side though, there’s the potential of gaining greater credibility if the unamplified approach takes flight.
On Friends & Total Strangers, instead of tackling big hits like 2004′s ‘Not Ready To Go,’ The Trews carefully filter through their back catalogue in search of suitably transferable tracks. 2005′s ‘Poor Ol Broken Hearted Me’ gets more than just a barebones alternate take. They’ve diffused the adrenaline inducing electric guitar riffs that gave it such frenzy. The angry vocals by Colin MacDonald have been replaced with a bluesy, gut wrenching pine, and the backup vocals which came off more like crowd chants on the original now shine as tight, sorrowful harmonies. ‘Man Of Two Minds,’ a rock ballad in it’s original form, now reaches for a level of melancholy with a subtle accordion accompaniment. And the addition of newly penned, ‘Sing Your Heart Out,’ ties the acoustic approach together. While these songs sound like they’re being interpreted as originally intended, there are some efforts that prove a song’s merit lies elsewhere. ‘So She’s Leaving’ lacks the reckless approach of the original and with no discernible accoutrements, it merely comes off as a lazy replica.
It’s commendable that Friends & Total Strangers feels natural and not like a gimmicky unplugged event. You can’t question the versatility, but it’s time for The Trews to plug the amp back in.
