Tangeena Barren
…and we’re all happy now
Stinky Songs
When I first started listening to Tangeena Barren, comparisons to Son Volt and Hootie started flying through my head. By the time I had finished the entire record, I still wasn’t terribly sure if I actually liked it. Seven listens later, I really just can’t decide.
I’ll preface my comments by saying that the references to the above bands were definitely unfounded. The layering of the music – melody being provided by an acoustic guitar while the electric guitar fiddles around to give the song its flavor – is definitely reminiscent of such acts. Yet Tangeena Barren has a much more pleasant and catchy-without-overkill way of going about it. The songs are all pretty laid back, with lyrics that mainly focus on any kind of sorrow, confusion, or aloneness. Aggrieved words presented by airy vocals that are occasionally harmonized rather imperfectly takes a little getting used to, but some of the tunes do actually come out with a rather agitated tone. Those, in fact, might be their best tracks.
I guess what it comes down to is that this is a band that sounds like they should rock, but they don’t actually do it by rocking. They’re occasionally funky, occasionally rather melodic, but for the most part Tangeena Barren just provides a bunch of relaxed tunes that will, at best, make you tap your foot. And for what it’s worth, they’re no so bad at it, either.
Tangeena Barren, 1105 Hwy. 54 BYP M-9, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
