Bounty628's Full Review: In the Meantime by Tim Blane
With a seemingly abundant list of singer/songwriters to hit the music scene both locally and nationally in the recent past, it is often wondered whether the genre will become so overly saturated that soon each artist will sound like someone else and the impressive gains in the field of singer/songwriter music will be lost. Though some might fear such a decay in the music industry, I truly feel that the brilliance of good music rests firmly upon the shoulders of each and every songwriter. Each singer/songwriter that wants to be classified as being a good musician must be willing to step up to the plate and create music that is both worthy of being listened to but more importantly can stand up to the other decent acts that are already out there.
Fortunately, Tim Blane is an artist that has created an amazing debut album that is sure to leverage him into the higher echelon of singer/songwriter fame. His debut album In the Meantime is a well produced album that features an amazing voice that is paired nicely with the music on the album. Blane, hailing from Boston, has written songs in which his passion for music can be heard and felt. Each song is musically right on the money and the album as a whole is a perfect way to formally launch Blane’s musical career.
Blane wastes no time showing you what he is all about when you turn on the first track of the album, Fan of Your Eyes . A brief introduction turns to Blane's voice belting out the lyrics of the song. A smooth yet persuasive voice is perhaps one of the best vocal performances I have heard in quite some time. Blane's range on the track is musically impressive and the track leads you nicely into what Blane is hoping to accomplish on this album: a feeling by his listeners that this album is an inspired album that expresses the passion and drive for creating good music that Blane calls his own.
Good Luck has a very jazz feel to it. Reminiscent of the now defunct Coby Brown Group, this song easily relays to the listener the important musical influence that jazz has on Blane's life. Blane attended a jazz music school and the twang that he infuses on this track shows his musical educational roots. A beat changes tempo throughout the track and Blane's voice is paired impeccably to the music of the track. A lyrically interesting song that for some reason had lyrical images of Bob Dylan come to mind, this track is a solid performer on the album.
Firecracker begins as a very slow track that carries a dark and somber feel to it toward the beginning of the track. Although the track is probably one of the slower on the album, the emotion of the track is perhaps the most powerfully conveyed on this track. "Every morning I arise, see your faces in the mirror looking back but it’s not quite enough. Later I can take a walk see the traces of your touch when the sun has disappeared."
A nice little piano bar sounding song finds its way onto the album on the track named What Do We Do Now . Blane focuses the song around the piano music that he adds nicely to the album. Venturing a bit from the rest of the album's beaten path works out well for Blane on this track. "It hit me like a ton of bricks, there ain't that much that I can fix. So Lord I'll just be glad that she's with me," sings Blane in his inviting and soothing voice.
The album winds down nicely with Bad Beer and Chips . Although I doubt Blane is singing about what were often the only two things in my college dorm at times during my undergraduate days, perhaps the title alone is enough to make his listeners relate to the song. But if not, surely the listener can relate to the sounds of the track and recognize that the same emphasis that Blane focused on throughout the entire rest of the album is not lost on the last track. This track features the musical range that accompanies Blane throughout the rest of the album and highlights how his voice once again matches to the music so well time and time again.
Track listing:
1. Fan of Your Eyes
2. In the Meantime
3. Good Luck
4. Drifting and Driving
5. That Way
6. Firecracker
7. Crazy
8. How it Goes
9. What Do We Do Now
10. Bad Beer and Chips
What Tim Blane has done on his debut album In the Meantime is truly impressive. Blane has fused two of the most important things to him, his music and his voice, and found the perfect synergetic matching of the two. Blane has created a debut album that is sure to garner him plenty of praise from both reviewers and listeners alike. The one thing that can be sure after listening to In the Meantime is that Blane's musical training has surely paid off extraordinary musical dividends and we can all rest assured that we will be hearing more of this young artist in the very near future.
In the Meantime was produced by Chris Keup and Stewart Myers and is on the Provo-Spain Records label.
For more information about Tim Blane, check out his website at www.timblane.com.
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