Artist Review: Truth & Salvage Co., Pick Me Up
Artist: Truth & Salvage Co.
Album: Pick Me Up
Genre: Southern Rock / Country / Americana
RIYL: The Black Crowes, The Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
It seems appropriate that Truth & Salvage Co.’s Pick Me Up has just been released by Megaforce Records - appropriate in the fact that with four lead singers sharing songwriting duties, this is indeed a megaforce of a band to be reckoned with. In fact, what I like best about this collection of talent is this very organic and ego-free approach to making music that allows all of its members to shine.
I’ll confess that I’m already quite familiar with this band - bassist/background vocalist Dean Moore has past ties to Indie-Music and singer/songwriter/guitarist Tim Jones has been on my radar since his days in Old Pike back in Bloomington, Indiana. Knowing Jones’ work and the impression as a performer he’s always given of a “man without time,” this sextet including Bill “Smitty” Smith (drums/vocals), Scott Kinnebrew (guitars/vocals), Walker Young (piano/organ/accordion/vocals) and Adam Grace (piano/Wurlitzer/background vocals) feels like a perfect fit.
As a group, Truth & Salvage Co. lives up to its moniker: spreading feel-good music that defies quick classification as anything other than a hyphenate blend of country/southern-rock/gospel/americana to the masses. There is, in fact, a truth relayed in every rich vocal harmony and heartbreaking, soul-searching lyric. It’s music you hum to, whether you know the words or not, because the melodies, harmonies and simplicity are universal.
From a production and songwriting standpoint, there isn’t a single misstep on this album - the overall sound is clean (but not sanitized), warm and forgiving in a way that allows each player the room to maneuver with personality through each track. Lead single “Appalachian Hilltop” and “Silver Lining” are obvious standouts - radio-ready with melodies that tap straight into crossover markets of rock, country and even folk. With other bands, this type of genre-bending can come off as muddied or unfocused, but there’s a very natural and easy amalgamation of styles and influences here that play off each other seamlessly and consistently. The result of this is a focused, taut effort that feeds the already jubilant mood of Pick Me Up.
I found myself consistently grooving and head-bobbing through a fantastic cover of Joe South’s “Games People Play” and “Island,” and daydreaming with a slide guitar accompaniment during “I’m Not Your Boyfriend.” This is sit-in-the-flatbed, beer-in-the-cooler crank-up-your-truck-speakers music. It’s comforting and familiar, but it’s also ambitious because it flies in the face of what’s trendy and popular. There’s no hipster or “aw shucks” pandering either, and moodier fare like “Back in Your Love” adds even more depth to an already strong lineup of material.
The interesting thing about this record is the fact that it kept conjuring up memories of listening to A and B sides of vinyl albums when I was (much) younger. The band taps into a nostalgia that could best be represented by artists like The Band, The Black Crowes, and even Jason Isbell. Bands who conceptualize material in a way that’s definitely a far cry from more formulaic counterparts.
This is music that’s hopeful and bears a timeless quality that borrows from a classic collective approach to songwriting. I think about the songwriters from decades gone by but I still hear the future. The gentlemen of Truth & Salvage Co. just get “it,” that thing that recognizes all that is human and flawed and interesting in us all. And they reflect that in their music, with this uncanny ability to harmonize even the strongest of personalities and talent. Where their first record was certainly satisfying, this record is a revelation. There is a polish and shine that reflects on Pick Me Up like vintage chrome. Let yourself be saved - pick up this record.
Truth & Salvage Co. website: http://www.truthandsalvageco.com/
(This review originally appeared on Indie-Music.com at: http://www.indie-music.com/ee/index.php/blog/comments/review_truth_salvage_co._pick_me_up)
Album: Pick Me Up
Genre: Southern Rock / Country / Americana
RIYL: The Black Crowes, The Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
It seems appropriate that Truth & Salvage Co.’s Pick Me Up has just been released by Megaforce Records - appropriate in the fact that with four lead singers sharing songwriting duties, this is indeed a megaforce of a band to be reckoned with. In fact, what I like best about this collection of talent is this very organic and ego-free approach to making music that allows all of its members to shine.
I’ll confess that I’m already quite familiar with this band - bassist/background vocalist Dean Moore has past ties to Indie-Music and singer/songwriter/guitarist Tim Jones has been on my radar since his days in Old Pike back in Bloomington, Indiana. Knowing Jones’ work and the impression as a performer he’s always given of a “man without time,” this sextet including Bill “Smitty” Smith (drums/vocals), Scott Kinnebrew (guitars/vocals), Walker Young (piano/organ/accordion/vocals) and Adam Grace (piano/Wurlitzer/background vocals) feels like a perfect fit.
As a group, Truth & Salvage Co. lives up to its moniker: spreading feel-good music that defies quick classification as anything other than a hyphenate blend of country/southern-rock/gospel/americana to the masses. There is, in fact, a truth relayed in every rich vocal harmony and heartbreaking, soul-searching lyric. It’s music you hum to, whether you know the words or not, because the melodies, harmonies and simplicity are universal.
From a production and songwriting standpoint, there isn’t a single misstep on this album - the overall sound is clean (but not sanitized), warm and forgiving in a way that allows each player the room to maneuver with personality through each track. Lead single “Appalachian Hilltop” and “Silver Lining” are obvious standouts - radio-ready with melodies that tap straight into crossover markets of rock, country and even folk. With other bands, this type of genre-bending can come off as muddied or unfocused, but there’s a very natural and easy amalgamation of styles and influences here that play off each other seamlessly and consistently. The result of this is a focused, taut effort that feeds the already jubilant mood of Pick Me Up.
I found myself consistently grooving and head-bobbing through a fantastic cover of Joe South’s “Games People Play” and “Island,” and daydreaming with a slide guitar accompaniment during “I’m Not Your Boyfriend.” This is sit-in-the-flatbed, beer-in-the-cooler crank-up-your-truck-speakers music. It’s comforting and familiar, but it’s also ambitious because it flies in the face of what’s trendy and popular. There’s no hipster or “aw shucks” pandering either, and moodier fare like “Back in Your Love” adds even more depth to an already strong lineup of material.
The interesting thing about this record is the fact that it kept conjuring up memories of listening to A and B sides of vinyl albums when I was (much) younger. The band taps into a nostalgia that could best be represented by artists like The Band, The Black Crowes, and even Jason Isbell. Bands who conceptualize material in a way that’s definitely a far cry from more formulaic counterparts.
This is music that’s hopeful and bears a timeless quality that borrows from a classic collective approach to songwriting. I think about the songwriters from decades gone by but I still hear the future. The gentlemen of Truth & Salvage Co. just get “it,” that thing that recognizes all that is human and flawed and interesting in us all. And they reflect that in their music, with this uncanny ability to harmonize even the strongest of personalities and talent. Where their first record was certainly satisfying, this record is a revelation. There is a polish and shine that reflects on Pick Me Up like vintage chrome. Let yourself be saved - pick up this record.
Truth & Salvage Co. website: http://www.truthandsalvageco.com/
(This review originally appeared on Indie-Music.com at: http://www.indie-music.com/ee/index.php/blog/comments/review_truth_salvage_co._pick_me_up)
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