Trent Tomlinson – S/T

Trent Tomlinson – S/T / 2006 Lyric Street / 11 Tracks / http://www.trenttomlinson.com / http://www.lsrpromo.com / Reviewed 27 April 2006

Trent Tomlinson plays a brand of country music that is what is ablaze on radio stations all across the world. Songs like “Just Might Have Her Radio On” is a blend of eighties rock (both of the Bryan Adams style and something resembling the “hair band” style), classic country, and pop music. However, individuals that are into music done well will be able to get into Trent Tomlinson easily. The use of a lap steel guitar during “Just Might Have Her Radio On” ties the track together and gives Tomlinson a strong start for this album. Tomlinson gets further into the rock vein when “Country Is My Rock” kicks in; there is little doubt that the track will make it into the top twenty in both country and pop stations.

Some of the songs are a little cheesy, but they work in the context (this includes “Cheatin’ On My Honky-Tonk”.) This track will be the song that is the hit of the summer, whether it be through the fiery piano lines or the easily-memorable lyrics during the track. In a sense, the style of vocal delivery during “Cheatin’” is just a transference of the style first put forth on radio by acts like Steppenwuelf. Tomlinson is just as convincing during eir slower songs on this album.

This means that “Angels Like Her” follow from the early-nineties Garth Brooks tradition (“Thunder Rolls), but have a current sound that will bring people to eir cause. Even though the track’s title and subject material seems as if Tomlinson will embarrass eirself, the metaphor is not pushed to its breaking point. The presence of the metaphor pretty much only happens during the chorus, as Tomlinson really fills the track with a narrative that contextualizes everything nicely. Going back to 1990 with “The Next Time”, Tomlinson shows that this album is essentially eir final exam for Country University. The results of this test are nothing less than impressive, as Tomlinson hits a home run in practically any musical style that ey wants to play in. Coming back to the humorous vein of things with “The Next Time”, Tomlinson may just have four or five different songs that will rocket up the chart. Mixing Nelson and Winger style guitar lines with violin and guitar during “The Next Time”, Tomlinson shows that ey has something for everyone on this album. Even if you are not in to country, give this a go.

Top Tracks: Angels Like Her, Just Might Have Her Radio On

Rating: 6.8/10

[JMcQ]