Two Tongues - "Crawl" (2009)

Two Tongues is new super group of sorts comprising members of Say Anything and Saves the Day. It all started when Say Anything front man Max Bemis and Saves the Day singer Chris Conley teamed up for a cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Man in Me” for a tribute album. Out of that collaboration a friendship was born and subsequently the two decided to write and record an album together. The band is rounded out by Say Anything drummer Coby Linder and recently departed Saves the Day guitarist Dave Soloway on bass. On their self-titled debut, Two Tongues have crafted an album of exceptionally tight and catchy rock songs that draw from the strengths of both songwriters. Bemis and Conley trade off vocals on most tracks, taking turns at the forefront. The songs themselves are similar to those found on Say Anything’s debut …Is a Real Boy and are somewhat reminiscent of Saves the Day’s seminal 2001 album Stay What You Are. Both songwriters have a knack for being quite dark lyrically, sometimes even bordering on the disturbing. However, the lyrical content of Two Tongues never veers too far in that direction. The songs mainly deal with relationships and in some cases, such as on “Wowee Zowee,” the friendship between the two. One of the most interesting things to keep in mind when listening is that Bemis has stated several times that Saves the Day are his favorite band and a major influence on his own songwriting. I’m guessing it was a huge thrill for him to be able to write a record with Conley. My only complaint about the record is that it is quite concise. The 13 tracks clock in at just over half an hour, with fewer than half breaking the three minute mark. I suppose that’s alright considering that’s the type of songs the duo write, but it kind of makes it feel like it goes by too quickly. Today’s song is the album opener and one of the stronger tracks in my opinion, although there are no duds. Bemis and Conley continue to stay busy with their day jobs. Saves the Day plan to release Daybreak sometime in 2009 while Say Anything are prepping a self titled disc to also hit stores by the end of the year. I look forward to both of those records, but until then I will continue to enjoy Two Tongues and hope that this won’t be the last collaboration we hear from Bemis and Conley.


Two Tongues - "Crawl"