This week's Tryout is another friend of the ol' Honky, as some high school friends came together and created a country-ish group called Menage a Twang. They remind me a bit of an East Coast Garfunkel and Oates. The biggest difference between the two is that Garfunkel and Oates have a too cool for school attitude while Menage a Twang makes fun of the too cool for schoolers while also being self-deprecating. A good example of the difference between the two is their take on women with kids. G&O simply judge and sing "Pregnant Women are Smug" whereas Menage a Twang can make fun of themselves while mocking their friends with "I Don't Want to Hold Your Baby". Although, honestly, all you really have to say to explain the difference is that G&O are actresses whereas Menage a Twang's actually lived in the real world. Although it's not like I'm trying to start some East Coast/West Coast battle between the two; they're both good but I'd love to see Menage a Twang get the following that Garfunkel and Oates have put together.

I couldn't find anything from their new album online but it has a number of standout tracks, my current favorite being "Time Warner Cable" which is not only a fun song but also is the perfect modern living country song as it compares a relationship to Time Warner's customer service (which is a pretty good comparison, honestly.) Overall, I just like the fact that it's a modern city living, early 30's based country album with songs that many of us can relate to like "I Don't Want to Hold Your Baby", "Facebook", and "Blender", which is about how married friends throw salt in the wound of single folk by signing up for expensive registries.

Here's a link to CD baby where you can buy/listen to excerpts of their latest CD. So support indie music and grab a copy already!