Customer Reviews

Truth About Us

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I can't think straight I go to a book/music store and wander. That is how I stumbled on this CD. I wandered into a listening station, picked up this CD, read the back cover and went straight to "I Would Have Married You"... the story of my life. I bought the CD for that song alone. The next day I drove the 100 miles to my mom and dad's house listening to this disk on repeat all the way there and all the way home. There is truth in Tim's words but more importantly in his voice. You can hear his soul in the voice that enters your ears like a scratchy whisper. This is a great disk... absolutly worth the [...].

If there's one thing Tim Easton has, it's insight into the human condition of longing and alienation within relationships. The songs are skillfully crafted and he sings with a voice that echoes of early Dylan. I must admit I purchased this album when I heard he was being backed by Wilco minus Jeff Tweedy,an incredible band in their own right; but Easton needs very little help as he sings about love that has gone awry and the consequences. This album sets a definitive mood throughout its 11 tracks and will stand the test of time better than most of the albums in your collection.

Tim Easton has been making great music for years. However, his recent pairings with members of Wilco on this latest album may help him gain the base of fans his talent deserves. His lyrics are pure poetry, and the vocals are haunting. He has a timeless sound that cuts across generational lines and transcends typical labels attached to the "alt-country genre. It's the sort of cd that your friends will borrow and never return, so buy a copy for a friend too.

I had never heard of this guy, until I saw him in Cleveland opening for the Cowboy Junkies. Accompanied only by the phenomenal Chris Burney on upright bass, he generated far more energy that the headliners, whom the audience had come to see. I bought the CD without a moment's thought, and was not disappointed. My fave: "Get Some Lonesome." Easton is the quintessential tunesmith. He has it all: melodic savvy, instrumental virtuosity, lyric sensitivity.

I've been a fan of Tim Easton's music for years. I've followed his career since his lead with the Haynes Boys while I lived in Columbus, Ohio where he got his start and watched him develope into an even better solo act. He always had the ability to draw in a crowd and mesmorize them. When I first picked up Truth About Us, I was slightly disappointed as I expected the songs to have more of that gritty, twangy feel that Special 20 so gracefully wore. But pay no mind, this album has Tim evolving into a true master of the song. Upon each listening, I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into his bittersweet lyrics and inventful song structure. Deceptively simple, each song slowly unveils layer upon layer of sweet sound, complements of Wilco on backup. Reminescent of the Beach Boys in feel but not structure or content, Truth... serves you soulful, sometimes sorrowful, lyrics coated in a sweet, gooey substance-something like Matthew Sweet at his best- in a cowboy hat. Special 20 will remain as one of my all-time favorites, but Truth... has carved out a different, but equal place in my heart. In hindsight, I would probably be a bit disappointed if Tim didn't go beyond the sound in Special 20. Unlike artists that search for a new sound deliberately to avoid being type cast, this disk is a natural evolutionary process. You must get it-and pickup Special 20 while your at it.

I bought this album after seeing him open for Lisa Loeb out in LA. Although the album doesn't match the humor and intensity of his live show, it's pretty damn good. His gravelly voice captures emotions well, and some of these songs stay with you. In particular, "Carry Me" and its weary lyricism...

Yep, this is his best work. Although it is more produced than any of his other discs(Break Your Mother's Heart, Special 20, They Will Bury You Ep) but none-the-less its the best. He is such a great singer/sonwriter, one of the best today and very underrated. Give this one a spin you'll be glad you did!!!

I enjoy this album very much. It definitely helps me mellow out on my drives home. If you enjoy Tim Easton or folk music in general, I think that you will like this album.

What Tim Easton does that makes him special is get rid of any sort of alt country pigeonhole, while producing a timeless album. You know, the kind that isn't classified, but is just good. I reccommend this album to anyone who likes solid lyrics and haunting melodies that leave you impressed with the artistic heights he scales. And I love the last song, because I wish someone would sing it to me.

Tim Easton's "The Truth About Us" should have been a classic. A young, emerging singer/songwriter backed by the non-Jeff Tweedy members of Wilco--this should have been a surefire success. Except that somewhere along the way Easton forgot to bring along a batch of engaging songs. This sort of thing happens occasionally, as one listen to the lackluster Neil Young-Pearl Jam collaboration album, "Mirror Ball," will tell you. Easton mines the same sonic territory as latter day Wilco (though I'd place him closer to Josh Rouse), but fails to even approach Jeff Tweedy's (or Jay Bennet's) deft songwriting touch. That's not to say the songs are bad, they're just not terribly memorable.

Overall, an album with plenty of pedigree that is nevertheless a disappointment.