Little Things - Toby Lightman Proves Size Doesn't Matter (Sometimes)
Written: Jul 31 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Soulful and simple; a definite change from everything else out there.
Cons: Samey; a little too much production in spots.
The Bottom Line: No matter how long I'm gone, the bottom line is always there when I come back. Dammit.
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| broomqueesha's Full Review: Little Things by Toby Lightman |
In 2004, Toby Lightman added her name to the growing list of female singer/songwriter/guitarists with her underhyped debut, Little Things. Little Things sets her apart from your average Michelle Branch wannabe, however, because it's dripping with real soul. Toby's voice is unique - she can sing loud and proud, yet also coo the most delicate ballad. Though she plays acoustic guitar, drums, horns, and strings are featured prominently throughout the record. Little Things is truly a great artistic work; it's accessible and has a lot of pop appeal, yet there's still plenty of soul and real depth to the music. Think of Toby Lightman as more of a Michelle Branch meets Alicia Keys, with a little bit of a country twang.
Leave It Inside is a rolling, interesting song full of plucky guitars and soulful vocals. Toby sounds slightly whiny here, but whiny in a good way, and it adds to the frustrated theme of the track. It's a bit production-heavy, but there are a lot of twists and turns that help create more interest. Not one of my favorites, but it's a good opening track. Devils and Angels was an excellent choice for a first single, as it's got a poppy, radio-friendly sound and a catchy chorus. It's easily the most accessible song on the album, yet Toby still manages to add a lot of attitude to her delivery. Lyrically, the whole my-man-done-did-me-wrong theme is played out, but the acoustic guitars and drums create a new dimension. Coming Back In, one of my personal favorites, is a smoky mid-tempo ballad. It's got a forlorn vibe to it and is probably the record's most soulful track. Keyboards and piano are layered on heavily here, but the bassline is the focal point. It's a great, smooth cut.
Frightened is one of the those songs that starts out good, but gets crappier as it goes along. At first, it's simple and acoustic, and Toby's vulnerable vocal performance takes center stage. However, a slew of background vocals and messy strings ruin it towards the end, and it ends up sounding overly thought-out; this would have worked much better as just an acoustic track. The River has a quirky, folksy sound to it that sets it apart from everything else on the record. Lyrically, it's one of my favorites as Toby asks "Well this is your life baby/Are you gonna take a look around?" Her delivery is very calm and slightly haunting, and the light production gives it a slight country feel. Voices isn't particularly remarkable; it's basically a somber mid-tempo track with a lot of earthy guitars. It has a bit of a live bar performance vibe to it, and Toby's delivery is, once again, soulful and smoky. A decent song, but not one of the album's real gems.
Now I'm not one for interludes, but Little Thing is actually nice. It's short and sweet, just Toby harmonizing, but all of the vocals are great. It's also a nice segue into the next song, Front Row. This track is a coy, mid-tempo number that, once again, has kind of a live performance vibe. It's very jazzy with slick vocals and lots of percussion, but my favorite part is when Toby does this sort of fast-paced scatting at the end; it really gives the song some character. Everyday is a stripped-down ballad and one of the album's strongest tracks. Her vocals are clear and strong, but not overdone, which really helps to get the introspective theme of the song across. Add in the usual acoustic guitar and some classy strings and you've got a great, understated song.
Is This Right is a happy, upbeat number with a good melody. The lyrics are a bit cheesy, but they're cute, and there's just the right amount of synths to add some charm to the production. Though not one of my favorites, it's very lighthearted and breezy, a nice addition to the record. Don't Wanna Know follows in the same upbeat vein, but it's a bit more soulful. It's full of horns and classy percussion, and Toby's delivery is both flirtatious and strong. This cut is definitely one of my favorites, mostly because the melody is interesting and the whole song just has this real soulful pop vibe. The final track, Running Away, is a low-key, country-tinged tune that features laid-back, lilting vocals from Toby. The harmonica also plays a major role in the song's calmer, more chilled-out vibe; the bassline is great as well. Overall, it's a nice, summery tune, a great way to close the record.
Little Things is a hodge podge of all kinds of genres - rock, country, soul, and pop. There's a little something for everyone here - introspective ballads, peppy, upbeat tunes, soulful mid-tempo numbers, and everything in between. Little Things was one of my favorite albums of 2004, and it really set Toby Lightman apart from the pack of young singer/songwriters that emerged in the first half of this decade. It's really a charming, simple record that relies more on vocal expression and strong instrumentation rather than heavy production. If you like the whole organic, neo-soul thing, I highly suggest you pick this one up. It's not straight-up soul, but, by adding a lot of different elements and different genres, Toby Lightman really created an interesting listen that any R&B fan can appreciate.
Repeat: "Coming Back In," "Everyday," and "Don't Wanna Know"
Skip: "Frightened"
Great Music To Play While: celebrating my comeback (again).
Recommended:
Yes
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broomqueesha
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I am finally legal.
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