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Tuesday, 27 March 2007 13:15

Apparently, "twee" is "known for simple, sweet melodies and lyrics, often combined with jangling guitars."

I never really understood what "twee" was until I heard the Eames Era's new album, Heroes + Sheroes. I also never quite came to the conclusion that I don't like "twee" very much until I heard this album. Apparently, "twee" is "known for simple, sweet melodies and lyrics, often combined with jangling guitars." Thank you, Wikipedia. Your endless, yet mostly unreliable vastness of knowledge has left me unsatisfied once again. To help give a face to the name, some famous "twee" bands you might have heard of include Belle and Sebastian and Camera Obscura.

OK, enough history. The Eames Era's new album is just too childish to be taken seriously. If anything, the band has proven there is a fine line between cute indie rock and making people throw up on cue. To personify it, it's the kid picked last on the kickball team because he/she kicks like a sissy. The sweet and subtle vocals of Ashlin Phillips are often too simple, only reinforcing the forgettable aspects of the music. In the end, the Eames Era blends in with the crowd, not good or bad enough to remember. D | Chris Schott