Reviewed by Kit Burns
The Callen Sisters/The Callen Sisters
…And they sound nothing like Tegan and Sara. When I received the Callen Sisters’ CD from their publicist, that was my initial fear: Please, please, don’t make these Tegan and Sara wanna-be’s. Although I realize that Tegan and Sara have their share of fans, I am not among them. Thankfully, the Callen Sisters have a style all their own, alternative folk rock with the added instrumental spice of a harp, which is especially dreamlike on “Lullaby.”
Sisters Jessa and Beth Callen share vocal duties; given that their album sleeve doesn’t properly credit the specific singing contributions on each track, I can only assume that they would rather keep that a mystery. (Translation: See them and live and find out for yourself.) “Like You” opens with a cozy acoustic intro that progresses into a thrilling marching rhythm. “Anomie” reminds me of the mid-’90s peak of Juliana Hatfield with its modern-rock riffs while “Irrelevant” is a dark mid-tempo piece that should appeal to fans of today’s indie scene. The gals are equally compelling with slow and fast numbers, which isn’t easy to do. However, for those who want an immediate high, jump to “Wake Up” with its tumbling, shuffling beat, and you’ll gladly accept everything else these ladies have to offer.
