The Eyebrows – ‘Double Take’ [Album Review]

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, power-pop trio The Eyebrows releases their third record, Double Take, a concept album where one music repertoire is tracked and mixed in vastly different ways.

Side One features polished studio tracks recorded and mixed by Mitch Easter. Side Two was tracked at The Eyebrows’ practice space, produced and mixed by the band’s primary singer-songwriter, Jay Garrigan. Bill Skibbe mastered the entire album at Third Man Mastering in Nashville.

Established in 2018, The Eyebrows consists of Garrigan (singer-songwriter, producer, guitar, multi-instrumentalist), Darrin Gray (vocals, bass), and Shawn Lynch (drums, multi-instrumentalist).

Talking about the album, Garrigan says, “We’re a double threat. I’m not sure if everyone in the band can dance, so we can’t be a triple threat. We are a great studio band and a great live band, not many bands do both of those well, and I wanted to showcase those aspects on this new album.”

Side One consists of five tracks, while Side Two encompasses seven tracks. “Say Yeah!” opens the album, rolling out on ZZ Top-like guitars, flowing into a contagious, pushing rhythm and growling guitars that conjure up suggestions of Grand Funk Railroad and potent, KISS-like vocals.

Entry points include “Open Mic Tuesday,” featuring jangly guitars and sugared harmonies. There’s a retro playfulness to the harmonics. While “You Shook Everything” pumps out washes of psychedelic tones topped by Garrigan’s dreamy voice.

The Eyebrows in 2023, photo by Jim Collins

Sans percussion, “When You Fall In Love, You’ll Know” closes out Side One with clean guitars and velvety falsetto vocals. The psych-rock-flavored “Descend Into Madness,” an instrumental number, is both lysergic and drenched in strident, edgy guitars riding stripped-down, raw percussion.

Garrigan explains, “I put ‘Descend Into Madness’ on side two because it was the start of this all-consuming obsession to track and mix the songs myself and make Mitch proud. That, and I wanted the listener to know there was something really different – raw and live – happening on side 2.”

“Open Mic Tuesday II” recalls the nostalgic balladry of Big Star, whereas “You Shook Everything II” boasts a scruffy meatiness that recalls Pavement. “When You Fall In Love, You’ll Know” summons suggestions of Lou Reed covering Talking Heads.

The dual personality of Double Take works, with Side One delivering more traditional renditions and Side Two conveying a visceral core.

Double Take Track Listing:

1. Say Yeah!
2. Open Mic Tuesday
3. Long Distance Love Letter
4. You Shook Everything
5. When You Fall In Love, You’ll Know
6. Descend Into Madness
7. Say Yeah! II
8. Open Mic Tuesday II
9. Long Distance Love Letter II
10. You Shook Everything II
11. When You Fall In Love, You’ll Know II
12. Be Op Bop II

Run Time: 32:35
Release Date: April 19, 2024
Record Label: Independent