The Comforters: Two Piece Orchestra

All the songs on the Comforters’ sophomore release Two Piece Orchestra have the bite of a toothless kitten. That this husband and wife duo’s name evokes softness should be a dead giveaway to Two Piece Orchestra‘s harmlessness. The album’s benignity is an asset, though, as it should cause even the most callous critic to tremble with guilt at the thought of ripping it apart.

Yet I, for one, am not beyond noting Two Piece Orchestra‘s many moments of hokeyness. Take the lyrics: “I need you like a mixed up kid needs to find another school / I need you like a teacher needs a rule” goes “Redbird in the Rain”. Such a lyric may have seemed inventive when initially written down, but when backed by some substandard country pop melodies, it just comes off as silly. Two Piece Orchestra is not without its moments of fine songwriting. “Gibraltar” has a hooky chorus and is generally reminiscent of Jenny Lewis’ solo work, while album closer “The World Has Room for Me” is a nice adventure in chamber pop. Sadly, most of the content leading up to that point is too meek to provoke any reaction, good or bad.