Customer Reviews

Throes

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Throes," is, in short, amazing. For those of you looking for something that is original and different from everything else on the radio AND in the indie world right now, this record is perfect for you.

Two Gallants mix a beautiful blend of rock, folk, country, and that certain indescribable something that you can't put your finger on. Their lyrics steep in a kind of tradition and glory that is difficult to capture. Their music pierces right to your heart, mind, and body. Through the course of the album, you will want to dance, smile, and reflect on your life.

Purchase this album immediately. You will not be sorry.

Two Gallants is a new band from San Francisco that may be flying under the radar. They need more attention. They may be part of the folk revival in the Bay Area. They are more into country music and Americana. Two Gallants is much like music from another time re-imagined by two guys in their early twenties. They have been wowing audiences for a few years now. Some of their songs of "Nothing To You" have that authoritative voice of records like John Fahey. Two Gallants seem like they are 180 degrees from what is trendy. They are unique and special. They need to be discovered.

As always the Two Gallants are pretty f_cking keen. It is kind of odd to hear them so well produced. But ya get over it. And the vocals are much more clear so the beautiful lyrics are more able to smack you in the face. If you have a chance, go see them live. It is Classic. If you live in a ditch with internet access in Siberia. Just buy the CD and get drunk and make love to a seal.

Throw this CD into your stereo then tape it shut, it's that good. If you do not surrender to this album it will conquer you with its destruction. Guaranteed.

Eine illustre Mischung aus Punk, Blues und Ska ergibt den rauhen Folkrock, den die beiden Musiker der Band Two Gallants Adam Stephens (Gesang, Gitarre, Mundharmonika) und Tyson Vogel (Schlagzeug, Gesang) seit einigen Jahren und auf nunmehr 3 Alben präsentieren.

'Geprägt sind die Songs von Stephens rauher Stimme, die der recht minimalistischen Musik, wenn man die Anzahl von max. 3 Instrumenten bedenkt, ihren Charme verleiht.
Die beiden Musiker starteten 2002 in San Francisco ihre Karriere. Ihren ersten Tonträger "The Throws" veröffentlichten sie auf dem Label Alive Records.

Nachdem sie in den frühen Jahren auf der Strasse, in Cafés und Einkaufszentren spielten, unterzeichneten 2005 ihren Vertrag bei Saddle Creek und ließen zwei weiteren Alben, zwei EPs und einige Singles folgen.
Adam und Tyson kenne sich seit ihrer Kindheit, haben schon früh begonnen Musik zu machen. Geprägt hat die Band in frühen Jahren der Lebensstil und die Menschen der Underground Kultur San Franciscos. Den Namen bezog die Band von der gleichnamigen Kurzgeschichte von James Joyce und spielt seit 2002 unter diesem.

Sie haben den Ruf eine gute Live-Band zu sein, auch wenn sie bei ihren Auftritten auf zusätzliche Instrumente (Violine/Cello) verzichten. Leider (ganz persönlicher Eindruck) haben sie bei ihrem letzten Werk (Two Gallants) den wenig galanten Punk-Charme ein wenig unter den Tisch fallen lassen. Nun, sie entwickeln sich weiter und geben an, dass dies ein natürlicher Fortschritt ist. Zumindest schaffen sie es sich nicht zu wiederholen und versuchen nicht, Bestehendes neu aufzukochen. Bleibt abzuwarten, was diese junge Band, deren Fankreis immer mehr wächst, in nächster Zukunft auf den Markt bringt...

Some day in January of 2005, I was working lights at a concert venue called the Vera Project. I wasnt too impressed with most of the bands there... However, The Two Gallants lit the place up. I mean, people were dancing and clapping and having a great time. I was so amazed with the feel of the music that I bought one of their CD's, The Throes. It was basically my prized possesion until it was unfortunately stolen. Im currently saving my funds to buy both of their CD's. Deffinately Lovin' It.

This duo's debut hits you with the same sort of visceral combination of acoustic-electric playing and punk bravado that made the Violent Femmes' debut so startling. The lo-fi mono recording leads with a sheen of garage rock and the angularity (though not brevity) of post-punk bands like The Minutemen, but the guitar-drums-harmonica-vocals line-up speaks dearly of blues and folk traditions. Adam Stephen's vocals range from intimate performances echoing the down-and-out sadness of Roky Erickson to stark guitar-driven electricity ala Billy Bragg to Pogues-like punk-waltz shouts.

It's amazing enough to hear all of this pulled together for a debut album, but all the more so given the pair's relatively young years of 21. There's great magic in hearing a sophisticated voice that's yet to limit its range of emotional expression or fall to self-censorship. The tracks occasionally grow long (several extend to seven and eight minutes), but for the most part producer Jeff Saltzman's bottled the band's energy without losing its fizz. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings.

I can not blevie how good this band is. I have seen them live a few times in San Francisco and they blew my mind. This CD is the first recoreding of the Two Gallants that does them justice. These guys are gonna be huge!

these guys are obviously a great band and are making music that is unlike anyone else. however, in this day and age even a band making music unlike anyone else can still remind you of others that came before them. in this case the two gallants kind of remind me of tom waits, bob dylan and the pogues (i don't really know what the pogues sound like but i have a hunch that that's the case). their lyrics are very literate, and they have a drunken sound that crosses paths with irish folk and "indie white guy doing old black blues". that said, the throes falls just short of being a great cd. the first 5 songs come out of the box pretty strong, but then songs 6 and 7 are so horribly depressing, and deal with subject matter that is so hard to listen to, that by the time you're on to song 8 the wind has been taken out of your sails and a bad taste has been left in your mouth. it kind of ruins the last 2 tracks, which are as strong as the first five. normally i would be ok with a 78% success ratio, but for the debut album by a young band that seems destined for greatness, i dunno if that's acceptable or not. but my opinion could change as time goes on and the album, as a whole, grows on me. in my opinion, a great album has to be great from start to finish and make playing it a ritual experience where no songs are skipped and no songs are played exclusively over others. but maybe the emotional impact this album has on the listener, whether it's good or bad, was part of the intent when making it. either way, i'm looking forward to their next release and expect it to be even better than this one was. hopefully i'll get to see them live the next time they come around, because i'm sure they're better live than on record. they played high sierra this summer for pete's sake! that's gotta stand for something.

Ive seen these guys a few times and talked with them a bunch, and they ROCK. like, they ROCK so hard you wont be able to rock to anything else. Like, their that good. So do youself a favor.... BUY IT. you dont even need to hesitate, just do it. You wont be disappointed