Shake/Shiver/Moan starts off exactly where 22-20’s need to be: jamming, bluesy, classic rock that channels the Stones, Led Zeppelin, and so much more. “Heart on a String” rocks on a train track beat that draws you right into an album that is anything but an express train. Track 2, “Bitter Pills,” shows what else to expect from the album—bluesy ballads that linger too long in any one location. Where “Heart on a String” preps the listener for more rocking, the album’s track order leaves one wanting.
The bluesy rock picks back up for track three, “Talk to Me,” which with its jamming, breakdown chorus is easily the strongest track here. Just one track and you find yourself pogoing again on an urgent beat for “Latest Heartbeat.” These are the standout moments of the album, and there are far too few.
Of the more tracks that pull back the guitars and tempo, “Ocean” lays out a nice Byrds-like psychedelic classic rock feel. The acoustic-like “Morning Train” closes out the album, a fine way to go gently into the night, as a darkly painted aural portrait.
