Heavy, lumbering monster riffs befitting of a QOTSA album dominate this behemoth of an album. For a duo, they make one hell of a racket, and one mighty dense sound. Much of this is courtesy of Caleb Bird's use of a baritone guitar, and these aren't the only similarities between Tweak Bird and Leeds noisenicks That Fucking Tank, who's Andrew Abbot kicks out his stonking riffs on a baritone guitar to similarly earth-shaking effect. Tweak Bird are similarly given to proggy leanings, too.
However, what sets Tweak Bird apart from, well, anyone I've ever heard, is the pop dimension - not that it's squeaky clean modern pop they're referencing, instead drawing on the glam stomp of T Rex and sunny surf pop, blended with a heavy (I mean real heavy, dude) dash of tripped-out psychedelia and prog weirdness. The production, courtesy of Deaf Nephews, a duo composed of Toshi Yasai and Melvins' Dale Crover brings out these different elements magnificently, allowing the spaced-out grooves to swirl kaleidoscopically atop the fat, gritty Sabbath-esque riffs, which are never less than rock solid and as heavy as hell. Melvins comparisons are almost impossible to avoid, but make no mistake, Tweak Bird are no copyists, and Caleb's vocals are a world away from those of King Buzzo, being strangely high and tuneful for the most part.
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The inclusion of a saxophone on some tracks, including the closer, 'Distant Airways' is another inspired deviation from the norm. 'Distant Airways' begins as a slow, strolling jazz odyssey before whipping up a manic frenzy at the finale. It's a (road) trip and a half.
http://www.myspace.com/tweakbird
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