The Center of the Universe
Artist: Admiral Twin
©2007 The Pop Collective
 
Ever wonder what became of the odd, quirky indie band the Mellowdramatic Wallflowers? I remember seeing them at Cornerstone Festival with a couple of the guys wearing these long flowered dresses playing the single “Spelunking The Chaos”. The song came from an ACM Journal Compilation disc. Obviously, the memory stuck enough in my Rolodex to do some digging.
 
With five albums and a couple of Christmas EP’s to their credit, this Tulsa, OK band has created a nice little niche for themselves. After enjoying limited success that comes with the buzz of originality and enduring labels dissolving, Admiral Twin appears to have found a home with Pop Collective.
 
One of the meanings behind the album title, Center of the Universe, is a Tulsa landmark of that name consisting of an acoustic phenomenon found in downtown Tulsa. This is smart harmonious indie rock with a varied list of influences, with Elvis Costello and the Beatles readily apparent.
 
You can still hear elements of the quirky realm from the Mellowdramatic days, but Admiral Twin has a seasoned sound that is just the right amount for a recipe. I am very impressed with the production work, instrumentation, and incredibly smart lyricism.
 
thecannyshark
March 2008

 
Bradley Snyder (thecannyshark) co-authors and writes for www.PneumaticTire.US, a web-zine chronicling the ongoing history of the Christian underground and independent rock scene.