Search - Dwight Twilley :: Sincerely

4 1/2 Stars

07/07/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In power pop circles, the Dwight Twilley band's debut album is a classic, revered for its shiny, nervy blend of sparkling British Invasion pop and old-fashioned rock & roll. In other words, it sounds like Big Star, but with a swagger, a sneer, and a tough garage band mentality. Its rocking spirit is all the more remarkable when you realize that the band in question is simply Twilley and cohort Phil Seymour, and the two played every instrument and produced nearly every cut. Musically, the album is undeniably classicist, but there is so much spirit to the recording and songs that it's hard not to get caught up in the record, particularly when the music is as tight as "I'm on Fire" or as evocative as the lightly psychedelic title track. It's easy to see why this is a power pop touchstone - arriving after the twin titans of Badfinger and Big Star, this has sparkling tunes and a do-it-yourself spirit that isn't just great to listen to, it makes you think you can do it, too. Over the years, it has been proven that it's not that easy, and this record remains one of the greatest power pop platters precisely because of that. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG
______________________________________________________________________________________________Twilley's first two albums were marginally fascinating because of how obsessively he synthesized the Southern and British pop-rock traditions--like a cool Alex Chilton, or (only we didn't know this yet) a Nick Lowe who worked too hard--and because so few bands were bothering with the kind of catchy '60s-AM songs that Twilley turned out by the half dozen. I suppose anybody who can construct hook-laden pop-rock songs--half good, half-better--without schlocking them up qualifies as a walking treasury of people's art, like Taj Mahal. But because his natural habitat seems to be the studio (a forty-track when he has his druthers), 'Sincerely' does smell a little like a museum. Grade: B+ Robert Christgau, Rock Albums of the Seventies"

Starry-eyed, sexy power pop, Big Star-Elvis cross-breed

05/12/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Cool stuff this, if you spent your late teenage years melting to Big Star's three albums. Great songwriting, effective harmonies, enough hooks to land Ahab's nemesis. Some highlights: the hip-grinding, killer-chorus 'I'm On Fire', apparently a hit at the time though you'll never hear it today (a shame); the hook-a-minute 'Just Like the Sun'; the title cut, a mildly psychedelic minor key lament with nice backwards guitar; 'I'm Losing You', a slow-dance torch song, with it's own built-in mirror ball. There are a few cheesy rockers like 'TV', but don't let that scare you away from America's second best-kept power pop secret from the '70's. And if you like this one, check out their second release 'Twilley Don't Mind'."

"Sincerely" Is An Underrated Masterpiece!!

ronbo | 03/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a perfect pop album with wonderful songs that, sadly, has remained underappreciated and underrated. One listen to it today, and it stills sounds fresh and undated. If this album were to be released today, critics everywhere would be falling off their arses, searching frantically through their thesaurus for words to describe the genius that was--and is--Dwight Twilley. Twilley mixes rock n roll classicism with pop smarts to create an ear pleasing concoction sure to please anyone. Also recommended: Twilley Don't Mind"