THE BOTH - IMAGE: Christian Lantry
[MOM-AND-DAD ROCK] The Both pairs two indie-rock stars whose best work is probably behind them. That said, it is an intriguing match, as likable as anything either has done before. Ted Leo’s best record, The Tyranny of Distance, came out in 2001, while Aimee Mann released her remarkable concept album, The Forgotten Arm, in 2005. His jumpy, punk-inspired ways mingle nicely with her signature melancholy. You might expect these near-opposites to cancel each other out, but the duets are dynamic, especially on vocals. If anything suffers from this yin-and-yang relationship, it’s the music, which can be a bit too middle-of-the-road. The duo’s self-titled debut does stray into adult contemporary territory, but the good tracks leap out, suggesting this newish relationship is offering more than enough material for a sophomore effort. When Leo’s foot-tapping riffs are brought to the fore, the Both is at its best, reminiscent of his excellent band, the Pharmacists, soothed by the kind of counterpunch only Mann could provide.
SEE IT: Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 234-9694. 8 pm on Friday, Aug. 29. $25. Under 21 permitted with legal guardian.
