A Twist In My Story

Secondhand Serenade | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 19, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: GLASS NOTE RECORDS
• ASIN: B0010TMVW0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,362 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

This follow-up to "Awake" finds Secondhand Serenade, a.k.a. John Vesely, adding to his signature raw vocals and guitar with orchestration and a full band. Produced by Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails) and Butch Walker (All American Rejects, Avril Lavigne), John crafts different styles of songs, taking you through the highs and lows of love and life. #1 unsigned MySpace.com artist seven consecutive months. iTunes "Next Big Thing" featured artist. Won Yahoo "Who's Next?" Clear Channel's "Artist To Watch".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I was hoping it'd sound like, February 19, 2008

By 

Project Sound "Kyle" (Provo, Ut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Twist In My Story (Audio CD)

I'm going to keep this short because I'd rather be listening to the cd. It's exactly what I was hoping it would sound like. The orchestration (sp?) really added to it. I wish he'd remake some other of his old songs because it sounds great.

Some of the tracks i skipped through the first time I now have gone back to and absolutely love. Too bad he isn't coming to Spokane!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like Dashboard Confessional (for better or worse), February 24, 2008

By 

Thomas Annonymous (Fort Collins, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Twist In My Story (Audio CD)

I remember the first time I stumbled upon Vesely's Myspace page. I thought to myself, "This is what I've been waiting for." After two utterly disappointing Dashboard Confessional releases ("A Mark, A Mission..." and "Dusk and Summer"), tracks off of Vesely's "Awake" seemed to take me back to the simpler days of Dashboard, when it was just a man and his guitar, pure sincerity stripped of all pretension.

And so here I am today, listening to Vesely's latest offering, "A Twist in My Story." And, in a sad way, my original comparison to Dashboard Confessional may have been more on the mark than I once thought. The man and his guitar have been ripped through the production ringer, with the addition of every instrument to boot. That raw sincerity and charm of "Awake" isn't necessarily nonexistent, but you might have to sift through a couple of layers of "recording magic" to find it.

One thing you simply cannot take away from this album is that, for the most part, the songs have that remarkably moving quality that we've grown to love in Vesely's work. And for that, you'll love this album. Songs like "Fall for You," "Like A Knife," and "A Twist in My Story" are more than worth the price of admission. In fact, there's not a legitimately bad track on the whole album. So why the little rant at the beginning about Vesely going the way of Dashboard?

The most disappointing part of this release is the re-recordings. For one, it seems like somewhat of a copout to just re-record old songs. Really, that's three less new songs that Vesely had to write and that we got to hear. But more than that, some of the re-recordings just sound so lifeless when compared to their originals. Now, I'm not just some fanboy that indiscriminately prefers old over new. In fact, I almost enjoy the new version of "Maybe" more than the old version. But "Your Call," and to a lesser extent, "Stay Close, Don't Go," just simply didn't need to be re-recorded.

Remember that hip, new, high-budget remake of Romeo and Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio? If you don't, check out the $1 DVD bin at your local gas station. Point is, just because you throw money at something doesn't mean it'll be worth it's weight in salt. And that's exactly what is so tragic about the re-recording of "Your Call," and this whole album, really. With the money of a major label driving its production, of course the new version of "Your Call" sounds more crisp and clean than the original. And of course all of the songs on this album have that 'radio-ready' feel to them. But what you lose in the process is the sincerity, the raw sincerity of a man and his guitar. When that's what brought you to the dance in the first place, why go and change it?

So, is this album worth it? Yes. Absolutely. It's not just some pop-rock affair that's only good for one or two songs. It's a solid offering, start to finish. But fans of "Awake" shouldn't expect the same sound they've grown to love.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent CD, May 12, 2008

By 

MusicStar22 (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Twist In My Story (Audio CD)

I am obsessed with this albumn, I listen to it every day. The lyrics to each song are really meaningful and the vocals, music, etc. fit it perfectly. If you've heard the single "Fall for You" and enjoyed it, this entire CD is similar to that single. You can also keep it on low at work all day!