On The Platter: The Mary Timony Band - The Shapes We Make
I recently got the opportunity to hear the latest album from 90’s indie icon Mary Timony. Helium was one of my favorite bands in the 90’s. Up to now I still play Dirt of Luck and Magic City and it’s permanently in my iPod.
The Shapes We Make, the latest album from The Mary Timony Band offers the same brilliant song writing and guitar work that has marked Mary Timony’s career. All of the elements that you have loved about Timony is present in this album. It is a fairly strong album with very memorable songs that are anchored by Timony’s deadpan delivery. If you loved Helium then you will love this album too.
And this is also what I think is a bit of a weakness to The Shapes We Make. Even though the songs are well made and strong testaments to Timony’s talent, there is this feeling that you’ve heard it before. I think it’s because Timony did not bring anything revolutionary or refreshingly new aspects to her music. The Shapes We Make offer strong Timony songs and her imprint has remained concretely the same. It would be nice for Timony to take a fresh, unexpected direction to her music at some point in the future because she does have the talent to pull it off.
Over all, The Shapes We Make is a strong release, but it is not entirely memorable.
Mary Timony, Helium, The Dirt of Luck, The Shapes We Make
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