This week I learned just what quiet can do with the track “Silence” by Tommy Alexander. Drums and bass bring us in and they are well produced, thick and dry with great bass drum and snare tones. The guitar comes in lurking behind a beautifully dark melody. It reminds me of George Harrison in the best way. Tommy’s vocals are haunting, soft and buried in the mix yet dark with lyrics that cut through you. Words like “heartbreak on my shoulders” and “the red birds flying by your window” leave you feeling like you’re starring in the latest AMC show, dark and racy yet relatable. The song structure is common with the verses and choruses dancing in tandem, each taking its turn. My favorite part of the song is hands down the guitar. It flows in and out with the chorus and tremolo laden rhythm guitar. Just when you arrive the second electric trills and rips and bends on note after note. I wouldn’t say its ever enough to classify it as a solo, just really tasteful lead electric guitar. Silence is the way, if you’re listening to Tommy on this track preach it over and over, but I say bring the silence, turn up that knob and give it a few spins. Turn that silence up as loud as you want to. Great tune Tommy, I’ll be back for more.
Thursdays With J.R. – Tommy Alexander
The B-Side: InTechnicolour
There was a time when every other song we received was a blatant rip off of Queens of the Stone Age. Some good, some bad, but each one uninspired carbon copies and it frankly was a bummer. The bummer being of course that the desert rock sound is a great sound, and just like the desert itself, one with a lot of different variations of life within it – not just Homme & Co’s most successful venture. Consider our faith in the genre renewed with the arrival of “The Wave” by InTechnicolour. Yes, the tell tale melodic riff-centric approach is here, but it’s done in a way that feels original and a valuable addition to the genre, not just a lift from it. It rocks and we’re hoping this means we’re headed into a desert resurgence, lead by these lads from Brighton.