VLM Chews Some Crow

Last week I finally snagged myself a copy of Secondhand Serenade's new album A Twist in my Story. When I first discovered Secondhand Serenade, I was at a point musically where that sort of syrupy acoustic emo was what I was after. The first album cooled off a lot for me once my tastes shifted (as they often do with little warning), but I still regarded the John Vesely (the man behind the band) as someone to watch for awhile. When the new album's first single "Fall For You" dropped, I was initially disappointed. Not so much because there was a full band now, but just because it just didn't have the same weight that the best tracks off of Awake had. Then the title track came out, which was a true disappointment. But I kept hoping that upon hearing the album I'd remember why I loved the band in the first place.

Well...

First things first; A Twist in my Story isn't a terrible album. Musically there are some really good things happening. The full band does add something, and isn't just Vesely's attempt to get his album in the "For Fans of Dashboard Confessional" rack. The new version of Awake track "Maybe" is the best work from Secondhand yet. The biggest problem is sadly in John Vesely's lyrics. They're either too forced, or so badly dripping with sap that they look as though they were ripped from Tom DeLonge's post-Blink playbook. While Dashboard is in the studio, teasing fans with promises of a new album before long, Secondhand Serenade will do, much as they did while those same fans were waiting for The Shade of Poison Trees. But in reality, that's all it is. I'll play this album a couple more times, and then wonder what some other band is doing and go off and ponder that, leaving this back in the corners of my hard drive.

I'm not willing to give up hope on Secondhand Serenade yet...two albums is hardly enough to make that call...but I have a sinking feeling the third one might be the last unless something life-changing happens to John Vesely.

Ruling on the Field: 4.5/10
Highlight Reel: Maybe [iTunes]

==TJ==

==TJ==