When a band announces they’re releasing a concept album, it can raise a fair few eyebrows. How far reaching will the concept be? Will it be accessible or will it alienate all but the most hardcore of fans? In the case of ‘Swing Sets And Handguns’ the concept applies purely to the lyrical content as the ten tracks relay the story of a girl in a relationship with her childhood best friend. It seems like a fairly straightforward set up, however Them Vs Her steer clear of any potential cliché as they deal with themes of alcohol and drug abuse, co-dependency, and insecurity.
Them Vs Her are a duo formed of vocalist Sarah Rose and guitarist Tim Stark, but the songs on ‘Swing Sets And Handguns’ are fleshed out by extra instrumentation. This extra dimension gives the songs some much needed solidity, although there are moments where they revert to a more stripped back approach. ‘Too Young’ for example bridges from a calming acoustic intro into a sea of melodic yet heavy guitar and drums before Sarah’s vocals come in over the top, giving the song a subtle yet emotionally raw feel. ‘Who I Am’ adopts a similar tone as the personalities of the characters start to emerge, but it picks up the pace for the chorus and it’s an excellent example of radio-friendly alternative rock done well.
What quickly becomes apparent almost immediately is how closely the music reflects the lyrics and vice versa, as both elements combine to create perfect snapshots of the different stages of the relationship. ‘23 Hundred Days’ initially sounds like Them Vs Her are heading off into ballad territory but the emergence of spiralling guitars reflects the mood of uncertainty created by the lyrics, whereas ‘Fall To Fall’ is full of hooks with a darker core. Even the songs that don’t stand up too well on their own such as ‘Stonewall’ are much more rewarding when heard as part of the overall narrative as the vocals and guitar continue to pull you in.
Perhaps the best example of Them Vs Her achieving what they set out to is ‘Empty Pockets’. Again it flows from acoustic to electric guitar, as the initially sparse drumming lets the guitars grab your attention. However the drumming then takes hold and directs the song, and the excellent off-kilter guitar solo towards the end takes the song to new heights. Elsewhere the subtle melodic rise and fall of ‘Judas Kiss’ and the sense of catharsis provided by album closer ‘Headlights’ further demonstrate just how captivating a listen ‘Swing Sets And Handguns’ is.
For all its strengths, the slower pace of the songs on ‘Swing Sets And Handguns’ means that those looking for a quick blast of summery pop-punk may be better off looking elsewhere. Although the album is only a modest ten tracks long, the songs are so densely layered that breaking the album up and adding a couple of songs to a playlist isn’t the best way to experience what Them Vs Her have to offer. Concept albums may be far from fashionable but you get the feeling that it was the perfect form for Them Vs Her to tell their story and anything else would have been a compromise. ‘Swing Sets And Handguns’ is expressive and emotional, and definitely deserving of your time.
CHRIS HILSON