Slim Twig

Slim Twig offers up something new and widely appealing on his latest record, A Toronto staple, Sof' Sike is sure to reach a much wider audience. Articulately produced, Sof' Sike offers up some great poppy freak-outs with masterful melodic undertones. Giving his audience a familiar sound that allows them to head-bang along, he harkens back to fringe psychedelia greats like R. Stevie Moore and Daniel Johnston. Standout track "Pricilla" channels the spirit of Jagger without being irritating. Slim hesitatingly, with an air of swagger, delivers the lyrics, "Priscilla ain't the kind of girl who's just lyin' around/So ever since I met her I've been trying to lock her down." There's a damaged quality to his voice that pays homage to rock'n'roll legends, but manages to mock them at the same time, shifting song arrangements into his very own unique creations. Some die-hard fans might want to be pushed further, to get weirder, challenged a bit more. Regardless, Sof' Sike is a strong album that's infused with just enough oddity. With a split LP with Dirty Beaches and another solo full-length in the works, Max Turnbull's Slim Twig musical persona demands our astute attention.