North Twin

Talk about a hole in heaven where some sin slips through. Falling Apart - a seamless, stunning debut, equal parts gamble and grace - echoes with the ethereal purity of the '72 Stones and Gram Parsons jamming in a roadside tavern past dawn. The majority of the material - gloriiously ragged tunes like "Broken Legs," "Carol Anne," and "Motorbike" come to mind - is precisely that thrilling. In fact,, supporters hail North Twin as the Northwest's most potent export since The Supersuckers. Makes sense - guitarist Tim DiJulio (Mike McCready's Flight to Mars), bassist Rebecca Young (Ian Moore) and drummer Rick Cranford (Radio Nationals) come from some of Seattle's most combustible. "I've been chewing on brimstone/I've been drinking straight lye," songwriter Tony Fulgham sings on "Gasoline." "I've been watching the fire grow, baby, wondering how the flames got that high." Few bands can pull off such an explosion of charcoal and courage. - Brian T. Atkinson - American Songwriter - American Songwriter Magazine

On their debut disc, Seattle's North Twin melds classic and southern rock with roots and country influences along the lines of Go To Blazes or Blue Mountain. Lead Singer and songwriter Tony Fulgham has a big, soaring voice that can go rough or sweet and sounds just right over North Twin's righteous jagged crunch. Fulgham writes hook-laden, commercially appealing songs that burst with detail, heart and energy; Falling Apart overflows with eleven excellent examples. - Andy Turner-NO DEPRESSION - No Depression

Whoa, once more a great band and music from Seattle. Out of a grunge city, which gave rise to such bands as Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, you don't just suddenly expect a roots rock band. All the more surprising are the sonic soundscapes and aromas that North Twin let us hear on their debut CD "Falling Apart". Think  "Drive-by Truckers, Go to Blazes, and Bottle Rockets. The men and only woman in the group bassist Rebecca Young have quite clearly specialized in pure roadhouse rock n roll, saturated whisky kissed shuffles, soured blues and a shot of Rolling Stones beat. Singer-songwriter Tony Fulgham penned all the songs on this album.  When Rebecca Young moved from New York to Seattle, she ran into Fulgham. A bit later, the two bagged guitarist Tim DiJulio and drummer Rick Cranford for the band. It then ends up being a bit of a paradox calling your debut album "Falling Apart". The steeped in speed rockabilly opener "The Good Guy" for a second catches me off guard though Fulghams voice immediately reminds me of Brian Henneman (Bottle Rockets). As the roots rocker "Gasoline" starts firing up, this album only gets even better and more exciting. After the flawless radio hit and title track of the album there follows "No One's Getting Out" a quick break of Americana to let us catch our breath. The lyrics are too good to be true and are self admittedly spun from whole cloth. Says Fulgham "I've been telling lies as long as I can remember. I found out that if you call them stories and you play guitar while you're telling them people no longer mind so much". We'll have to remember that philosophy. For starters, just give a real close listen to "Halloween in Houston".  Thanks to the nonchalant upright bass and backing vocals of Rebecca Young and the crystal clear guitar solo by Di Julio, I again forget to follow the lyrics. Almost the same thing happens to me in the country ballad "Turn Around".  You know what, I give up. The music and the rhythm are too good to think about and analyze any further. A fine and varied debut album by this rip-roaring quartet out of Seattle. Even the bleached grunge fan would have to eat their heart out. -Jan Janssen-Real Roots Cafe - RealRootsCafe.com (Dutch review)

The members of North Twin are old hands in the music business. Young was in New York country band Long River Train; DiJulio played with Lazy Susan and Kim Virant; Cranford drummed for Radio Nationals. But "Falling Apart" captures the ebullient energy of a teenage garage band. Fulgham grits his teeth and growls out dusty tales of love and life. Hints of twang and rolling bass lines keep the songs rooted in the country-rock traditions of Gram Parsons, while DiJulio's blistering guitars drive them toward the anthemic Southern rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd. -Tizzy Asher- Seattle P.I. - The Seattle Post Intelligencer

North Twin’s second release "Stronger at the Broken Places" was written and recorded under the shadow of Rebecca Young’s (bass, vocals) diagnosis with breast cancer. As a result many of the songs reflect ‘fear of death’ and ‘fear of love’. Surprisingly this is an edgy and vigorous record full of songs from the top draw of country rock. The influences from The Byrds (Sweetheart of the Rodeo) era, Ozarks & The Marshall Tucker Band are here plus more contemporary acts such as Reckless Kelly and Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. In the last year or so the band have supported The Bottle Rockets, Son Volt & The Drams. Musically and lyrically there is nothing innovative here but there is much to enjoy even if they are travelling a well-worn path.

The four-piece band consists of main songwriter Tony Fulgham (guitar & vocals), Rebecca Young, Tim DiJulio (guitar & vocals) plus Rick Cranford on drums. Various additional musicians add piano, organ, accordion and most notably Billy Joe Huels trumpet on "Clear As Day" where this and guitar trade licks. The band is at home with straight ahead country rock on songs "Going Down" or more contemplative songs such as "I Remember You" and the closing song "Black River".

Country rock never sounded so good…recommended.

Date review added: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Reviewer: andy riggs
Reviewers Rating: 8 out of 10 - AMERICANA UK

A couple of times a year we come across a release that, in addition to the music, has a back story that makes the HearYa staff pull a little bit more for the band. Three days into the recording of their prior album, North Twin bassist/vocalist Rebecca Young was diagnosed with breast cancer. She never missed a beat and met the disease straight on, barely missing any studio time. I am sure we’ve all known someone afflicted by this horrible disease and its always inspiring to read about someone with Rebecca’s fight and resolve.

Inspirational story aside, we wouldn’t posting anything about the Seattle quartet if the music didn’t deliver. The first song, “Hope It All Goes Away,” is a beautiful poignant tune that hits you between the eyes after you hear of Young’s battle. Lead singer Tony Fulgham’s voice does a fantastic job of filling the tune with a perfect amount of emotion to deliver the goods.

“Clear As Day” has a little bit more outlaw alt-country in it, telling the tale of a man who’s made some questionable choices in his life. It peaks with a blistering guitar/trumpet solo that really kicks you in the ass.

Stronger At The Broken Places is a fresh piece of alt-country with a great back story. North Twin are also looking for gigs at SXSW 2009 so if anybody is interested, shoot us an email at hearyablog@yahoo.com and we’ll put you in touch with the band.

Reviewed by Woody January 6, 2009 - HearYa.com

This Seattle band's been known around town for awhile now as natural heirs to the late great alt-country rockers Radio Nationals. While drummer Rick Cranford is the only North Twin member who was in Radio Nationals, North Twin also has an anthemic roots-rock sound that's rooted in both Uncle Tupelo alt-country and some classic southern rock, and they have their own distinctive lead singer and songwriter in Tony Fulgham. Their debut album is a potent set of colorful Fulgham originals that show the band coming into their own as purveyors of soulful, blue-collar roots-rock. 2/26/2007 -Don Yates-KEXP - KEXP

Fused from the remains of the late Lazy Susan and the Radio Nationals, North Twin combines rock-and-roll riffs with soulful vocals, producing a '90's throwback in this successful debut. "Falling Apart" essetntially collects 11 stories told through Tony Fulgham's scraping vocals and bluesy lyrics (I'm falling apart/I got a jigsaw puzzle for a heart/Oh, how'd this even start?"), told with enough simplicity and easy melody to make for a welcome listen for rockers and alt-country fans alike.
-Erin Thompson - Seattle Sound Magazine

Seattle's North Twin is a boot-kicking combo of Tony Fulgham's honey-rock vocals (think Kenny Roby from Six String Drag) and the dual combo of X and it's country offshoot The Knitters with the guitar attack of the Bottle Rockets. This album is hook-filled, slows down in the right places, and kicks your ass the rest of the way. Truly, a thrilling debut! -- Jeff Weiss - Miles of Music

Tasty tough little record this Falling Apart (self produced) by North Twin hailing from Seattle. A passionate singer with a real set of pipes flanked by a guitarist who wants to be heard on every tune. This singer-songwriter is Tony Fulgham. He grew up with his dads' Willie, Emmylou, and Eagles records. Tim DiJulio is the guitarist; he also plays with Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready in Flight to Mars. Bassist Rebecca Young and drummer Rick Cranford complete North Twin. Vocalist-guitarist Fulgham has the same driven- ness of a Jesse Dayton. Specifically the opening song The Good Guy has a rockabilly and surf feel, something that also has to do with DiJulio’s involvement. This guitarist knows what he’s got to do. No tune goes by without his input. DiJulio plays ferociously, sounds different on each tune and never wears out his welcome. This is what hot rootsy rock’n roll sounds like! Think Beat Farmers, Go To Blazes and Bottle Rockets. Tony’s catchy songs are rock solid, not even the name of the CD can change that. Good alternation also of the more rockin’ out tunes with moments of calm. A strong debut. (John Gjaltema) - alt.country.nl