The Telephone Line “Tied Up” Album Review

• 

The Telephone Line
“Tied Up”
Released November 12, 2015

The Telephone Line are a five piece pop/rock/soul and funk band from Pittsburgh. Their music is a sophisticated blend of genres that essentially mixes soul and funk with well crafted pop songwriting to form quite a distinctive sound that is alternative to what’s out there, yet still very much commercial.

This album, Tied Up, consists of eleven tracks of a remarkable consistency, starting strongly with “You’re The One” and “We’re Gonna Make It,” both feisty pieces of funk pop built around the dual guitars of Jay Krivanek and Joseph Gustafson and led by the superb, soulful vocals of Addi Twigg. Warm organ, some nifty drumming/percussion and mellifluous basslines complete the rich sound, along with backing vocals/harmonies.

Follow, “I Already Know” and “Cocoon” take things into more mellow territory, with “I Already Know” introducing a rockier influence which continues with the bluesy “Hey Babe” built around a dirty electric riff. “Tiny Lights” and “Close Enough” bring things back to their more laid back style, with “Leave You Wanting More” being pure 70’s soul. “Automatic Grace” is the deep thinking epic of the album: “I want automatic grace for everyone of my lives….”. The closing “Queen of The City” is a fine closer with tasty Rhodes piano.

Overall, a fantastic album from start to finish full of memorable songs by a group that have totally defined their sound and hit upon a winning formula. They deserve to be huge. Be sure to check out the album November 12 and listen to them live on WDVE morning show between 10-11am.

Review by Alex Faulkner for SSE

See the Video for The Telephone Line’s First Single Tiny Lights HERE

•