A review of TWO by TL2
by Jimmy Caterine, Independent Musician and staff reviewer

As an EvO:R reviewer I have come across some amazing recordings and some not so amazing recordings. Now I get to review our fearless leader. Since I only have bias towards my own music – I think that I can remain honest in my opinion during this review and hopefully, I don’t get reprimanded for being unbiased and critical towards my good friend Charlie Harrelson.

When I first met Charlie, I was new to the world of the World Wide Web. I found my first CD, Cognition, in the Kiosk at EvO:R.com and I was confused as to how it got there unauthorized. After a few emails back and forth with Charlie Harrelson, I came to understand how the net worked and that Charlie distributed many CD’s as a CD Baby affiliate. Charlie sent me some of his work as TL2 and I have been a fan of Charlie Harrelson ever since.

I love hearing guitarists get their ya ya’s out. Especially ones as well balanced as Mr. Harrelson.

TL2 gives us a beautiful and sometimes confusing canvas of colors that make you have to listen to this disc again and again. I had a new perspective with every sitting. It’s not hum drum or run of the mill. It’s art and should be viewed as that. The grooves and the depth of the background instrumentation resemble an industrial/ techno feel throughout most of the disc and on top you get 31 flavors of Charlie Harrelson’s guitar styling.

Another reason I like discs like this is everyone who listens to it will come away with something different. I’d like to go in depth on a few tracks that really stood out for me. I know this isn’t the standard EvO:R format but sometimes I feel the need to emphasize certain points.

'Monsta Mash' is the 3rd track. Charlie uses the chromatic blues riff from the fifth to the sixth as the main theme of the song. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the progression used in this way before. It works well and I came away thinking how cool it is that such a simple idea can speak a thousand words. The song is both eerie and a bit jazzy at the same time. VERY COOL!!

'Serkis' is just a little minuet –so to speak. But again shows TL2’s creative nature using a melody that we are all accustomed to hearing at one time or another and adding his own sometimes demented twist on it. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!! (in an eerie, twisted sort of way.)

'Malcolm’s Hand' –I’m not sure who is singing. I don’t have the liner notes for this CD but I think this creates a great diversion and lifts TWO to a new level. WOW –anyone who listens to this song will feel something. The canvas is even more colorful than the rest of TWO with awesome tones and delay. It’s like a lush ethereal ocean which makes a beautiful bed for this ode to one’s father. I can relate.

'Out Of Sync' –Is that a kalimba in my left ear? Again, the artist moves in mysterious ways –

'Blinded' and 'Slam Dunk' are two others that stood out for me. I love the clean tones on Slam Dunk. Maybe I can get a few pointers from TL2 on this particular tone. VERY NICE!

The low point of TWO (for me) was 'Man Of The Forest'. It was a cool progression but I failed to find the groove in this piece. Although, that may have been the artist’s intention –so it is merely an observation.

Conclusion:
I would recommend TL2 –TWO to guitarists and other musical ‘artists’ around the world. I would also recommend it to any aspiring artists, guitarists or musicians to give them an idea of what it takes to become a brilliant artist. I’m thoroughly impressed.

-Jimmy Caterine