Cookin’ Up Lovin’ – Twitty & Lynn – New Album Review
UPDATED: May 15, 2024
UPDATED: May 15, 2024
Twitty and Lynn - Cookin' Up Lovin'

For those unfamiliar like I was, Twitty and Lynn are a rising duo, proudly the grandchildren of country music royalty, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Comprising Tre Twitty and Tayla Lynn, the duo formed in 2016 to both pursue their love for music and uphold their grandparents’ legacy.

Twitty and Lynn unveiled their inaugural full-length album, Cookin’ Up Lovin, on April 20th, 2024. The 12-track album includes 7 original songs (co-written by the duo), 3 Conway and Loretta classics, and covers of Jim Stafford’s Spiders and Snakes and Bruce Springsteen’s I’m on Fire.

Highlights

Twitty and Lynn expertly carve out their niche, nestled between the nostalgia of Conway and Loretta’s ballads and the flair of modern country. Their original songs on the album are not only meticulously crafted to suit the duo’s style but also successful and intriguing enough to infuse a contemporary charm.

The album kicks off with the whimsically titled track Cookin’ Up Lovin‘, where the drumbeat and honky-tonk piano transport listeners to a bygone era of duets and dancehalls. Twitty and Lynn trade vocals, weaving a tale about kitchen adventures, cleverly using a country-fried metaphor for their relationship, or as they playfully put it, Cookin’ Up Lovin’. This track oozes country music for the traditionalists and stands out as one of the album’s highlights.

Me and You begins with an infectious acoustic guitar melody that seamlessly transitions into Twitty and Lynn harmonizing about soulmates. A delightful feel-good country duet, the duo compares themselves to perfect pairs like “White Bread and Bologna” or “White Walls and Armadillos.” The addition of the pedal steel guitar will have you and your loved one waltzing across the floor. It’s a strong contender for your next date night karaoke session.

More Standout Tracks

Thinkin’ Of a Number emerges as another standout track, with a pressing beat and urgent bassline that will have your foot uncontrollably stomping along. This song hits all the right notes, with electric guitars and fiddle solos filling the sonic backdrop as the duo details their perfect life together.

Rather than delve into each cover track on this album, let’s address them collectively. Twitty and Lynn excel at a very specific style, and they’re incredibly adept at it. I imagine they’ve performed and honed these tunes enough times to rival Rocky pounding frozen beef. For example, while modernized, both Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man and After the Fire is Gone are undeniable, serving as reminders, as deliberately intended, that they are the direct descendants of Conway and Loretta. Both are strong standout tracks on the album.

Ironically, and perhaps blasphemously, it’s actually Bruce Springsteen’s I’m On Fire that reigns supreme among the covers. Maybe that says more about me than anything else. Twitty and Lynn truly leave their mark on this track, along with the subtle banjo in the background, their harmonies add depth to the original story. The duo’s voices are sultry and provocative against the backdrop of The Boss’ lyrics. The official music video adds to the allure, resulting in a cinematic treat.

Tracklist

(Writers in parenthesis)

1. Cookin’Up Lovin’
(Shelly Fairchild/Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Tre Twitty)

2. After the Fire Is Gone
(L.E. White)

3. Need Your Love (Give It Up)
(Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Liz Rose/Tre Twitty)

4. Spiders and Snakes (L&C cover)
(Jim Stafford/David Bellamy)

5. Me and You
(Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Tre Twitty)

6. I Hate Me (For Lovin’ You)
(Scott Baggett/Tayla Lynn/Jeffrey Steele/Tre Twitty)

7. Feelins’
(Troy Seals/Will Jennings)

8. Always Be You
(Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Tre Twitty)

9. I’m on Fire
(Bruce Springsteen)

10. Hillbilly Git-Down
(Scott Baggett/Tayla Lynn/Jeffrey Steele/Tre Twitty)

11. Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
(Becki Bluefield/Jim Owen)

12. Thinkin’ of a Number
(Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Tre Twitty)

Final Thoughts

Twitty and Lynn evoke evoke feelings of nostalgia and personify a bygone era.

As mentioned before, Twitty and Lynn have carved out a truly special place for themselves in the genre. It’s clear they have a distinct mission and have honed their act to razor-sharp accuracy. They’ve picked up the proverbial ball left on the field by their grandparents and scored the winning touchdown. The back-and-forth duet style creates a fun and feel-good experience, captivating listeners from start to finish. With a name like Twitty and Lynn, the weight of the world is already on your shoulders, but I must say, Conway and Loretta would be proud.

 

Album Release: April 20, 2024

Favorite Tracks: Cookin Up Lovin, I’m On Fire

RootsnRevelry Grade:                           

B-

For Tour and Merch: Follow Twitty and Lynn

2 Comments

  1. Mitch Thomas

    12 track album is awesome. Twitty and Lynn are a great duo. I like the song Cookin’Up Lovin’

  2. Renee

    Just outstanding tracks! Our local radio stations need to wake up and start playing these gems!! Milwaukee, West Bend, Green Bay stations- this is amazing country music- let’s hear it!!!

You may also be interested in the Twitty and Lynn: Together Again Podcast

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