Do you ever watch that NBC show Ed? I have to admit I’m a fan. Ed is just the nicest, funniest person. Sort of the all-American nice guy from Stuckeyville, Ohio.

Imagine Ed with a little bit of a Texas drawl, friendly brown eyes instead of friendly blue ones, and a Buddy Holly style of GEE-tar playing. That’s Colin Boyd. He’s a local favorite here in Dallas, Texas, and always a kick to go see live. I saw him in Denton, Texas one evening while in college, and picked up the CD at the show.

Colin has two full length CDs out, “Juliet” and “Sincerity,” and one album only available on cassette, called “Peggy Sue Went Surfing. (which Colin says has the sound that Buddy Holly WOULD have had if he’d lived to experience the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean ”). Plus, that Christmas album I always forget about.

Colin plays around town at various venues, sometimes tossing Smarties candies to anyone brave enough to get up on stage and sing duets with him. I have never had the guts so far. But I almost got drunk enough once.

“Sincerity” is his most polished effort so far. He’s a genuine folk singer, melding the sensibilities of Buddy Holly, John Prine, and Johnny Cash. Although his songs are built around the acoustic guitar, his lyrics are full of either love imagery (a quintessential hopeless romantic, this guy!), or frustrated ex-boyfriend thoughts. Sometimes they are tongue in cheek and allow a little laughing at himself. Sometimes he’s dead serious. Either way, his music is enjoyable and accessible.

The album starts with the title track, "Sincerity", a poke at a lying girlfriend.

If that’s what you call sincerity
I’d like to thank you for letting me know
If this is sincerity
It didn’t take long letting it show
There’s no reason to stall it
If that’s what you call it
If this is your honest and true
I’ve got a genuine certainty I’m not the one for you.”

“Doesn’t Matter Now” is a testament to the confused feelings that linger after a breakup. You still care for the person and sometimes dream of putting things right again, but sometimes you realize how pointless it would be when the same problems would still plague the relationship.

I still picture
You and me putting our love back together
Our hearts beating on as one
Forever
Such a long time to be gone
You can’t turn back anyhow
It doesn’t matter now.

His yearning for the perfect relationship is displayed in “Someone Who Can Do No Wrong.”

“I wanna be like some I’ve seen
who never get mad and can’t get mean
a disposition that won’t turn green
get my life together
I don’t wanna be this guy no more
Who can’t think straight and he can’t keep score
And drove you away right out the door
Most likely forever
I could send you a note and say
I meant well all along
But one day I’d like to do no wrong.”

“This Kiss” is Colin at his most mushy and romantic. The lyrics evoke love songs of the 50s and 60s, when life and love were both a little simpler.

“Oh, when I hold your hand
this means I only wanna be with you
and when I say I’ll be your only man
I mean today and tomorrow too
And when I hold you tight
With all my might
This means I will our whole life through
And a kiss, a kiss, this kiss means I love you.”

“Don’t Torture Me” addresses a girl who’s making mincemeat of his heart and doing other mean stuff to him; the main lyric being:

“Don’t torture me. For you I have no resistance, can’t you see?”

“Forgettin Someone” is a mournful tale of a guy who just can’t seem to get over his ex.

“Tried to tell myself it’s over
that she ain’t ever comin’ home
tried givin’ my heart to another
but I can’t give away what I don’t own
Tell me how to start forgetting someone…”

“Near You” is a statement of yearning from a guy still hurting over the ex (see above). The lyrics are a little simple, I’ll admit, but his voice sounds so stark and lonely. Kind of like a puppy that no wants to pet. And with that same gosh-darned cuteness.

“I need you near me
I don’t know why
It’s been so long
But still I cry

I can’t forget you
But I try and try and try”

“Much Better Off Without You” is a funny chronicle of a guy with an ex. You know the situation. AFTER you break up your friends all tell you they didn’t like the person that much anyway, and you’re much better of without them. So Colin shows his nasty side in this one. By the end of the song, he’s out to give as good as he got:

“I’m gonna find me a cute little pretty young thing
and keep that girl right by my side
until the day she starts trying to play my heart strings
I’ll let her know right there
That’s the end of the ride
And when she cries to me:
Why I treat her this way?
I’ll just give her your number and I’ll say
That she’ll be much better off without me now, anyway

“I Wanna Be the One” is back in the hopeful thinking vibe. Colin’s putting on a show for the lady he loves, trying to convince her of how great they’d be together:

“I wanna be the one
who holds you near all of the time
I wanna be the one
Who holds your heart like you hold mine
This could be a love that lasts forever
A love for us that will not be undone
I wanna be the one”

“I Know What She’s Saying to Him” features the evil ex once again. Saying pretty words to the new guy just like she did to Colin.

“And I know just what her next line will be
that her last lover couldn’t understand her needs
she said that same thing to me
I know what she’s saying to him”

“Call My Bluff” is about a guy who refuses to show his vulnerable side to a friend (or ex girlfriend). It sounds like it could be either.

“Call my bluff
don’t let me hide
or hold my hurt deep down inside
don’t let yourself be satisfied
with what I may be showing
you can try, you can try
you can try again
you may not think I can let you in
I’m just a little leaf blowing in the wind
Blowing and blowing”

Plus, there’s a short coda at the end of the CD of Colin at 5 years old singing “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus.” How’s that for a classic?

Colin even has his own website now. A short bio, pictures, showdates, and ordering information for his music ($10 for CDs, and $5 for cassettes) are all included. Colin also gives you haiku reviews of some of the movies he’s seen recently. Since he did a song for the Barney’s Great Adventure movie, his Barney review is pretty funny:

he may be purple
he may have a big green spot
but he digs good songs

Check out the home of Happy Cat Records online, and if you can make it to a show, I’d highly recommend him. How could you not like a guy who thanks everyone on the back cover of his CD, including the people who don't throw rocks at him?

www.colinboyd.com
The colin boyd hotline 214-744-7911




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