The Forecast - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen

The Forecast
In the Shadow of Two Gunmen
Victory Records
Grade: A-

If every song on In the Shadow of Two Gunmen rocked as brilliantly as “And We All Return to Our Roots,” this would be the best record of the year. And though the Forecast don’t possess the powers to make our dreams come true, there is still enough joy on this sophomore effort for Victory to keep you satiated. The Peoria, IL four-piece’s debut for Victory came courtesy of the amazing Late Night Conversations (an artist of the month for Exoduster). Although the band had two EPs and a split before, Late Night Conversations really opened the band up to wider acclaim. The Forecast’s obvious appeal comes from their guitarists Dustin Addis and Matt Webb intertwining vocals with bassist Shannon Burns. Add in the Forecast’s slightly twangy Americana indie rock and you have songs that echo greats like the Anniversary, Park Ave., and Helicopter Helicopter. Again focusing on lives in their hometown and general rust-belt life, the twelve songs on In the Shadow seize your attention with melodic hooks, alt-country charm, and grab your heart by often painful reminisces. For whatever reason, this record doesn’t hold you as tight as Late Night Conversations, but it’s still a great collection of songs. After the average opener “Everything We Want to Be” comes the aforementioned glorious “And We All Return to Our Roots.” Now, I’m an uber-sucker for songs with a strong male-female vocal back-and-forth indie rock, and this song delivers it in droves. The particular moment comes from Burns’ belting, really shouting, the line “all I want is a little place of my own where I can rest my head.” There is no way not to feel the power and intensity of the line and the song. Other songs to offer similar powers include “(May You One Day) Carry Me Home,” the hard rocking “A Fist Fight For Our Fathers,” “West Coast,” and the slow burner “Some Things Never Change.” Begin with 2005’s Late Night Conversations, but quickly follow it up with In the Shadow of Two Gunmen.