They say 50 is the new 40. Similarly, 40 is apparently the new 30. But 30 will always be 30. Say what you will, but even the encroaching specter of one’s fourth decade elicits feelings of nostalgia for years that, if memory serves, weren’t even that great the first time around. If 20-year-old you looked in the mirror, they wouldn’t recognize the sunken, schulbby visage staring longingly back, yet the reflection hasn’t quite amassed the earning potential to apply a Mercedes or condominium to the abscess of aging. So what does one do when faced with the exodus of relative youth and the sudden arrival of absolute, unadulterated adulthood? Swallow the anchor.
Twin Brother’s unfiltered opus to adolescence, Swallow The Anchor, finds the trio delving into some dark, unfortunately identifiable, and garishly gorgeous caverns of an understated passage we’ve all taken, will take, or—as is thrust to the forefront on the nine-song effort—are currently traversing. From the long opening violin caresses of “Shallow Mission” to the uproarious pleas in “Heart And Soul,” and singer Sean Raasch’s sullen lyrical resignation of “So stand up straight before your head hits the ground / Too little too late / You’re an old man now” in parting shot “Stand Up Straight,” Swallow The Anchor is an altogether well-thought and delicately devastating recognition of, outmatched fight against, and reluctant acceptance of departing youth. At least there’s pretty music on the way to a place none of us want to go.
Twin Brother will release Swallow The Anchor Sunday, August 31 at Club Garibaldi. Old Earth and Joe Crockett (of The Championship) will open. The show begins at 8 p.m. and costs $8. The band will also play 414 Music Live on Thursday, August 14 at the 88Nine Radio Milwaukee studios at 5 p.m. The show is free and 20 limited edition posters with advance digital downloads of Swallow The Anchor will be available for purchase.