TT – Man On the Corner
Traversing a genre of music that has been chipped away over the decades, TT brings his enthusiasm to his detailed lyrics & tight playing. It’s almost as if he bent progressive rock’s bombastic intensity into a workable pop confection that makes the showcase memorable as it chugs along on a well-greased track.
It’s a debut LP that features 9 powerful pieces written, produced & performed by TT for Man On the Corner (Drops Jan 17/Independent/29:19) recorded in Los Angeles. The first two songs are fine, but the slower “Heal My Mind” is most impressive with its haunting arrangement. The album’s topicality traces refuge, resilience, redemption & an opportunity to turn life’s challenges into something beautiful & empowering. Heavy stuff.
TT’s music encompasses a wide mix of country, classical with R&R. It contributes to a genre-bending record. Though it isn’t spacey, it has reminiscing moments from Tony Carey’s Planet P Project (“Pink World”). That was an ambitious set. It drew on many sources to realize Carey’s musical impressions. Some songs come off as silly but catchy in that 60s pop-infectious way. “My Kinda Cowgirl,” is a locomotive-driven tune that’s well sung & performed. The songs are based on good storytelling & few of them are rooted in cliché. There’s nothing new here. However, TT tries his best to present his music with atmosphere, mood, experiences & struggles with relatable issues. The words “Man on the Corner,” emerge in “Old Glory” — a nice rock piece that’s part Neil Young, part Bruce Springsteen held together with a strong Woody Guthrie thread.
“Ghost In Your Shoes,” is another enthusiastic piece that touches on afflictions, addiction & difficulties. The songs could sound overdone in spots but I guess that kind of forward march is necessary to immerse the tune in its push to get people to listen as hard as possible. Good arrangement, fiery guitar & unified vocals. Some tunes are puff pieces that will get listeners to embrace the song & get others to dismiss them.
But the music alone by TT is still viable. The arrangements are colorful, good singing & it’s all captured with zest.
Highlights – “My Confession,” “Heal My Mind,” “My Kinda Cowgirl,” “Old Glory,” “Ghost In Your Shoes” & “A Moment Ago.”
Musicians – Terry Watkin (drums/percussion), Holger Fath (guitars), Mick Mahan (bass), Rocio Marran (violins/violas), David Kelly (piano/keys), Kara Britz-Burnell, Lacey Watkin & Justin Richards (backup vocals).
A color 8-page stitched lyric insert is included. The color image is courtesy of TT’s website gallery. CD @ https://www.ttmusicstudio.com/
Video Premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2024/10/16/video-premiere-tt-heal-my-mind/
