Watson Twins

It can't be said that Leigh and Chandra Watson's full-length debut, Fire Songs, totally distanced them from what they are still primarily recognized as ― Jenny Lewis's collaborators on Rabbit Fur Coat. So the intent behind this follow-up seems clear: to firmly establish themselves as a dynamic musical force on their own. To accomplish that, the twins have taken a daring approach on Talking To You, Talking To Me, one that trades much of their traditional folk style for a sparse, deep soul sound that contains more than a passing nod to vintage Portishead, and by extension, Isaac Hayes's immortal Hot Buttered Soul. All that's missing on tracks like "Forever Me" and "Midnight" are the strings, but that doesn't lessen any of the drama. By contrast, tracks such as "Savin' You" and "U-N-Me" are built upon a distinct West coast folk rock bounce. This combination of Memphis and Laurel Canyon is intoxicating throughout, displaying how far the twins have come, as well as their unlimited potential as songwriters.