Music Review: Tinnarose, Tinnarose

By Melissa Bratcher

Tinnarose’s self-titled debut album feels like a classic rock album. There’s a tablespoon of Nilsson, a dash of Bowie, some drops of Steely Dan, all shaken up together and covered in sprinkles of inventive harmonies. Cooking metaphors aside, Tinnarose is a likeable debut with power pop sensibilities.

The double-barreled singing duo of Seth Sherman and Devon McDermott blends in a most unusual way. On the opening stomper, “When You’ve Gone,” the sweet-voiced McDermott holds an “oh” for a long time, while Sherman sings a lower line under her vocals, and it is goosebump-making. They counterpoint each other nicely before the song ends in a feedback haze. The completely irresistible, Nilsson-esque “Hard Loving You” is an amiable shamble, a duet in which McDermott effortlessly slips into a clear upper register. The chorus is downright charming. On the falsetto-palooza of “Small Talk,” it’s a little Bowie, a little Who, and all intriguing. The rhythm guitar line is insistent and the solo is both fuzzy and wailing. “Small Talk” does go on a bit long in the tradition of moody ’70s rock. The jammy interminable fadeout never loses energy, but it just goes on and on.

Tinnarose’s tendency to go on a bit keeps good songs from being great songs. With a bit of judicious editing, these songs could be gems. Instead, like “Small Talk,” they seem endless. “Fallen Debris,” in which McDermott channels Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries, could have been condensed into a tighter song. The rhythm guitar is chipper and the breakdowns after the verses are nice. McDermott’s pitch is a bit wobbly and her enunciation is dodgy. And yet, they reprise the song and get even noodlier.

There’s a serious Marty Balin vibe from Sherman on “Emptiness.” It’s simply gorgeous when McDermott joins him, so pure on the high notes. “Monster” could be a secret Steely Dan song replete with sax solo. Its Walter Becker-esque guitar work and jazzy feel with subversive lyrics could have been pulled from Can’t Buy A Thrill.

Tinnarose is a fine debut. The harmonies and the interplay between the two vocalists are delightful. The musicianship is excellent; keyboardist Andy Bianculli is an MVP, throwing unexpected touches in. If they could rein in their need to jam (which, to be fair, is a lot more interesting live than on record) they could make a record for the ages.

Tinnarose was released on August 26 by Nine Mile Records.