Review: Twin Shadow - Eclipse
By Travis Boswell, Staff Writer
[Warner Bros.; 2015]
Rating: 4/5
Key Tracks: “To The Top," “Alone,” “Old Love/New Love”
If you're looking for songs to dance and cry to at the same time, Twin Shadow has what you need. It's always fun seeing what kinds of tunes resonate with people, as they sing along to an upbeat track that's secretly melancholy. Twin Shadow puts his own spin on this, as he doesn't attempt to hide his heartbreak with wordplay. Eclipse is an album full of sad songs, and Twin Shadow makes that clear in every word.
For a collection mostly produced alone, these songs can have a huge arena rock feel, as if they were meant to be performed in a stadium with eight-piece bands. “To The Top” is the best example of this, as Twin Shadow even layers his own vocals in a way to mimic a backing choir and a crowd chanting. Even as this and pieces like “I'm Ready” try for an epic feel, his voice is never obscured. Twin Shadow's deep tone commands attention as he sings through his insecurities and failed relationships.
“Alone,” a duet with Lily Elise, is a good example of this. He tries to fix some failed relationship but as the music goes quiet he whispers, “Last time that I saw you, you said you'd make it up to me / I haven't seen you since, and I don't plan to,” sounding utterly defeated. The song is upbeat piano-driven R&B but the lyrics are anything but romantic. “Flatliners” has an energetic rock chorus but the refrain of “We don't have to be flatliners / So pump, pump, pump it up” toes the line between inspirational and false confidence.
Most of the songs on Eclipse have Twin Shadow singing clearly, but “Watch Me Go” provides a contrast as his voice is put through harsh static filters. If the other cuts where he sings clearly represent his true feelings, the aggressive “Watch Me Go” has him acting tough but the vocal effects show that it's still an act.
“Old Love/New Love” has already broken out as a successful single, and it summarizes the record’s general theme. It's a fun nu-disco composition with Daft Punk-styled guitar riffing, with lyrics about the pain of moving onto a new relationship while still being in love with the last person. The song opens and closes with a Twin Shadow beside a lonely piano, closing with, “Why you gotta call and hurt me? / And I love you still.”
A few of the songs don't make a lasting impact, but overall Eclipse is an excellent album to both dance and cry to. Lyrical sincerity has been making a comeback in the mainstream as artists seem to be more willing to throw aside tough facades and talk about their feelings. Twin Shadow doesn't just write his emotions, he makes sure they come through thanks to his highly articulate, expressive voice. Whether you want to dance and sing along or quietly reflect, Eclipse is a release with something to relate to.
