Singles

The Twang - Barney Rubble

TC 01/08/2009

Rating: 4/5

The Twang hover on the precipice of the abyss known as 'difficult second album syndrome', the phenomenal success of 'Love It When I Feel Like This' from two years ago was well merited but that does of course place huge pressure on the next performance to take it up a notch. So what we have here is the lead single into the new album 'Jewellery Quarter' and, with so many others falling at that second fence, anticipation is indeed intense.

'Barney Rubble' possesses all the trademarks that endeared them to us before: a catchy tune with a sweet melody that is gently bumped along by bobbing jangly guitars. Phil Etheridge's vocal style still betrays his Brummie roots, with that wonderful cockney twang (no pun intended), that remains as adorable as ever and even the lyrics this time appear to have their roots in East London - “it's my double-trouble Barney Rubble chit chat that causes her to frown”.

It does fly by too quickly and doesn't have the initial impact that 'Ice Cream Sundae' or 'Wide Awake' certainly did, but there's enough suggestion here that the full set might just be the saving grace that the indie rock world desperately needs in 2009.

The Twang Official Website

Barney Rubble Video