Album Review: The Last Royals - Twistification

How to even begin to describe The Last Royals. Personally, it's been sometime since I ever listened to a band so lighthearted and as ebullient as this one. Their debut album Twistification gave me a feeling of discovery i don't get very often and was an absolute blast to listen to.

The 11 piece debut LP lays out a euphony composed of hazy synth verses, faintly distorted guitar riffs and a stream of harmonious built-up choruses that will engage and captivate the casual listener for the duration of the album. The band offers a very refreshing sound that could possibly inspire a new generation of listeners.

The Last Royals formed in the early spring of 2010 after the Brooklyn-based duo met while recording for a charity event in New York. Not too long after, the same year they released Crystal Vases EP which offered a snippet of what would become Twistification, with manifestations of songs like "Come Take My Hand" and "Crystal Vases".

After a first few listens, it seems like the 1 1/2 year between the release of their "Crystal Vases" EP in 2010 and the recent release of Twistification really gave the band time to release a rather successful follow-up, and serves as a fantastic music start for 2013.

The album setlist is mirthfully arranged to take the listener on an upbeat, electric and undeniably summer-ish vibe that really sets in the mood. If you are a follower of bands such Modest Mouse, The Killers, or more recent acts such as The Royal Concept, you will most definitely find The Last Royals rather interesting and ear worm catchy.

Twistification is composed a handful of emotionally drawn songs that focus on the complexities of shattered relationships and lost love. The album kicks off with a sensitive and soft-toned "Winter Waltz" as an introduction to the story behind the album, but immediately steps it up a notch with the transition to "Friday Night". From this point forward, the album unfolds to offer a warm and cool energetic vibe.

Midway through the album, you'll be enthralled by "Wake Up", a cheery and exuberant tune that crosses between the fields of pop-punk and new wave, immediately giving the song its indie and old school- meets-new school feel. The song ushered a blast of nostalgic memories of being 16 on a summer day skateboarding and chilling by the beach. Many of the tunes have a cool summer solstice cruising vibe to them.

"Only the Brave" is the wailing anthem of Twistification in my personal opinion, as it features pretty much everything a listener looks for in a song when looking to rock out and have a good time. Punchy basslines, catchy verses and climaxing choruses combined with a fun loving lyrics that will most definitely kick it up a couple of notches.

In a nutshell, Twistification offers its listeners a variety of styles to enjoy and listen to, from glam rock and indie americana, which give it a resemblance to The Killers, to the distant echoes of Punk-Rock heard in "Crystal Vases". It is evident, that Twistification is a fusion of various musical genres rather than a continuous style of music, which is one of the things that makes this duo a special band.

Personally, I will keep my ears on this band's forthcoming material, as it seems to be a band with a  very promising future. It’s still incredibly early in the year, but this dynamic masterpiece is destined to be one of  my favorite releases so far and I'll be surprise if you don't begin to hear from them very soon. Their style is hip, cool, extremely addictive and I personally think that you’ll find impossible to turn down. Let me know what you think of this album in the comment section below!!!!