Sunday Herald Sun May 30th, 2010 Review by Anna Rodway Folk/Jazz ****


Alanna & Alicia’s playfully witty ‘Two in a Book’ is the second outing for the Melbourne twins. They spin heartfelt lyrics with toe tapping tunes such as ‘When You Come Back’ with a truthful earnestness. There is an honest and unaffected beauty about their folk – jazz style and sweet, harmonious vocals. ‘Big White Dressses’ speaks of ‘Rathdowne St cafes’ and St Vincent’s Hospital, adding to the album a relatable and quaint charm. ‘Little Bitter Song’ is an amusing glimpse into the frenzied world of songwriting and “All I Want’ is a different take on Joni Mitchell’s tune. Each ditty is masterfully composed, with Amy Bennett’s haunting violin making an aesthetically pleasing album. File Between : The Waifs, The Indigo Girls

May 2010
Review by Tony Hillier ~ RHYTHMS MAGAZINE May, 2010 ALANNA & ALICIA ‘Two in a Book’

Alanna & Alicia Egan are singing twin siblings from Melbourne who twist folk, ragtime, blues, jazz and other roots styles into their own deliciously idiosyncratic and saucy songs. Two in a Book offers some wry and frank – if sometimes verbose – observations on love and life, from a twenties to thirties demograpghic. That their originals sit comfortably beside an interesting interpretation of Joni Mitchell’s ‘All I Want’ – the set’s sole cover – is testimony to the quality and quirky nature of their words and melodies. Their lyrics are delivered with verve and the kind of close harmonies you’d expect of sisters, to consummate backing from the likes of guitarists Andy and Peter Baylor and multi instrumentalist Amy Bennett (piano, viola and violin).

May 12th, 2009
Last Saturday was an outstanding success for the club with a full house for the Alanna and Alicia Egan Band and Tom Bolton. Review

Alanna and Alicia Egan Band

REVIEW of 'Funny She’s So Much Like Me'
by Tricia May

I'm extremely excited to play the CD 'Funny She’s So Much Like Me' by twins Alanna and Alicia Egan, on my weekly radio show, 'Hats Off, Step Lively', which is a mixture of music and the written word.

I'm always on the look out for creative songwriters like Gillian Welsh, Rickie Lee Jones, Joni Mitchell, who are not only great musicians but songwriters who tell stories that make us think and I've found this on the girls' CD.

The tongue in cheek combination of words form music patterns of sheer delight with subtleties that make one ponder, then say, 'Yeah, I can sure relate to that!' as for example, in 'The Mask' by Alicia. Maybe we all know a boy who hides behind a mask of cool, pretty jester, a charmer with all the right words in public, but when alone, or one to one, a scared little boy.

And 'Marilyn' - also by Alicia – a friend who you love and enjoy and admire her many talents, but her endless stories about people squashing her dreams, making her lash out with 'a tongue as sharp as a knife' to hide her disappointment and rage, can sometimes annoy the hell out of you.

Another track I love is 'Wrong Girl' written by Alanna, then a young girl of 16 singing in pubs, allowed to perform but not old enough to drink. She sings about how sleazebags prey on young girls with their sweet talk and get the wrong idea in their lecherous minds.

The CD starts with 'These Days' by Alanna, about not really fitting in, never toeing the line. Well, maybe Alicia and Alanna don’t fit the norm but their music is unique, so refreshing and a joy to listen to, if that’s being different, well I’d like to be the same because I never tire of listening to their great CD and what they have to say. Every track is wonderful. Their voices harmonise so sweetly and melodically to gentle tones, jazz styles and conversational singing.

Amy Bennett who assists on viola, piano and backing vocals is extremely impressive complimenting the girls in an outstanding way. The same goes for Andrew Shepherd whose acoustic guitar has a rich, bright, mellow style.

The format of the CD is excellent with both twins sharing the limelight so to speak. It's like when they perform together live, they bounce off each other in a casual, witty, lighthearted way. It's delightful to watch their sisterly love and respect.

The CD ends with 'Time in my Pocket' – well I’m glad the twins had time in their pockets to make this amazing album.

Tricia May
'Hats Off Step Lively'
Wed, 7pm, Bendigo Fresh FM 89.5

REVIEW OF ALANNA & ALICIA EGAN
(Singers Featured at the Bendigo Folk Club, 17 Nov, 2006.)
by Tru Dowling © The Purple Poet

What a toe-tappin' smooth shake-your-groove-thang swingin' attitude these girls have happening. Underscored with a slide-down-your-throat bluesy honesty, their songs talk to you in a street-smarts new way of seeing, of feeling – it's conversational, with some catchy clichés recycled, reworked, that just ooze tonal originality. You stop and think, 'hey, that’s different' yet there’s a familiar ring to it, and you realize, like a comfy pair of hip-huggin' jeans, 'yeah, that's goooood'.

April 24th - ABC Central Victoria Album of the Week view site.

'Funny She's So Much Like Me' is the first album from Alanna and Alicia Egan.

They grew up in central Victoria, with the distinction of opening for the Waifs when they performed in Bendigo. Their music is acoustic, relying on neat instrumentation and female harmonies. They write their own lyrics and music, and the CD also features viola and piano from Amy Bennett.

If you remember Tiddas, you've got something of an idea of how the harmonies work, and become an integral part of the song, not just a bit of pretty sound in the background. The songs are short, for the most part, and to the point, with lyrics that politely request a close listen.