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Boyd Tinsley
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True Reflections
RCA
Release: 6/17/2003
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Rated:
Review by:
Lindsey M. Keen
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Have you ever listened to an album that you wanted to love,
but no matter how many times you pay attention, you just
couldn't feel the vibe? Well, that's the deal with Boyd
Tinsley's first solo project, True Reflections.
I'm a Dave Matthews Band fan. I have a band tattoo on my
lower spine. I have every album produced and I've seen
them in concert about fifty times. But I still bear no love for
Boyd's solo attempt. Point blank, True
Reflections is a mediocre endeavor.
Back in the early DMB days, Tinsley was just your typical
frat guy playing gigs for college kids at the University of
Virginia. This college grad with a degree in history was
playing in two bands, Boyd Tinsley Band and Down Boy
Down. He's a classically trained musician that was noticed by
Dave Matthews in 1991, and became a permanent fixture in
Matthews' band circa 1992. The first time fans heard
Tinsley's voice recorded was on Listener
Supported singing "True Reflections," a song he wrote
twelve years previous. After a successful thirteen-year run
with the DMB, Tinsley, like Dave Matthews, has stepped
forward towards a solo career.
Subsequently, Tinsley is embarking on a journey full with
disheartening critics. Although the artist has a great cast on
his playbill including blues rock guitarist Doyle Bramhall II,
former John Mellencamp violinist and singer Lisa Germano,
delicate vocalist Toshi Reagon, the raunchy Dirty Dozen
Brass Band and Corey Harris, True Reflections
features a multitude of three-to-four minute, average
songs.
Some tracks, like "Perfect World" and "Run" are sweet,
innocent and rewarding. Unfortunately, Tinsley then catches
the listener off guard in deciding to cover a
ballad rather than a hard-rocking song. And which did he
choose? A slow burning version of Neil Young's "Cinnamon
Girl," which will make you want to cut off your ear and
scream, "No he didn't!"
If you're looking for the flavorful jazzy rhythms that DMB is
known for, then search elsewhere. True
Reflections is a more guitar-based recording featuring
folk-rock sounds and slow, driving melodies. Needless to
say, I would suggest this album to only the true DMB fan, as
it includes one song with Dave singing. However, Tinsley, I
hate to say this buddy, but stick to the violin and leave the
singing to Dave. |
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