Turn It Up
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
The Pennsylvania twins Hannah and Lauren Hobbs make quite an impression with this debut album, where their skilled singing and genuine songwriting sounds right at home in Nashville across these 10 very relatable songs.
The title track starts the listen with gritty guitar from Nate Dugger as the sisters guide the playful country rock with their smooth, expressive singing, and “Never Find Another” follows with warm acoustic guitar as the pair bring folk influences to a cautious landscape of rural beauty.
At the midpoint, “Mistakes Like You” is not short on melody in the country flavored strummer, while “Don’t Know What Is” is one of the calmest tunes present, and displays a timelessness with some of the best singing alongside proficient drumming from Ben Jackson. “Summer On A Slow Burn” then recruits a dreamy appeal amid emotive singing as the duo showcase their diverse pipes.
Approaching the end, “What If It Was” brings plenty of pop ideas into the country template, where the sisters harmonize superbly, and “Grown Up Things” exits the listen with a poetic, reflective quality that’s heartfelt, sincere, and quite memorable.
The siblings are quickly turning heads wherever they go, and have played some high profile shows already. A strong debut album, if Lauren and Hannah Hobbs become the next superstars in the country-pop scene, well, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
Travels well with: Alyssa Trahan- Baby Blues & Stilettos; Southern Halo- Just Like In The Movies