The second album by
Secondhand Serenade, aka singer/songwriter
John Vesely, finds the former solo artist making a grab for the pop-emo brass ring. Featuring production by (separately)
Avril Lavigne and
All-American Rejects knob twiddler
Butch Walker and former
Nine Inch Nails member
Danny Lohner, not to mention full-band re-recordings of two of the debut's strongest songs,
A Twist in My Story is an unapologetic mainstream alternative pop album. The more grandiose arrangements add strings, layered harmonies, and other arrangement details to
Vesely's songwriting style. (He has explained the band name by saying that his songs are all dedicated to his wife, and the fact that others get to hear them is secondary: hence,
Secondhand Serenade.) The result is an alt-pop record comparable to the likes of
Five for Fighting or even the mellow
Jason Mraz. ~ Stewart Mason