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 a songwriting style once hallmarked by its singular focus. (
Vesely 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.) However, in expanding his sound,
Vesely has lost everything that was even approaching uniqueness in his music, with the result that
A Twist in My Story is a bland, over-produced alt-pop record with little to distinguish it from the likes of
Five for Fighting or even the egregiously mellow
Jason Mraz.
Vesely might luck into airplay for tracks as pleasantly inoffensive as first single "Fall for You" or the two re-recorded tracks from the debut, "Maybe" and "Your Call." But overall,
A Twist in My Story is unfortunately forgettable. [A Target Exclusive edition was also released.] ~ Stewart Mason