“Life Happens Here”
“Life Happens Here” by Walking Tall – A Review:
“Life can be so complicated.” Well, so can Reviewing…Welcome to it.
“Life Happens Here”, the new album from the Sacramento, California based band Walking Tall is, to me, an album of potential. Beginning with great songwriting, followed by competent and smart musicianship, through an elevated production, and into a sometimes-wonky mix, the listener sees every one of these songs get better as they progress, so that by the end of each one, you, in your sing-along state, see just how good this album is, and just how great it ultimately should be.
A sentimental and immediate album, “Life Happens Here” opens with no music or fanfare just a lyric, “This is my life”, and I think the stage is set. What follows is an examination, or perhaps a confirmation, that uncovers the fact that Life, Love, and even Heartache happen Now, Right Here, and what a Glory each one is to Experience.
And what’s really wonderful about the record is that this message is delivered on the backs of great songs. With perfectly catchy melodies that even after only three listens (I am reviewing the record after all), I find myself randomly singing out loud throughout my day. That says a lot to me about the time, effort, and craft of the songwriters, as well as the arguable simplicity and ultimate effectiveness of these songs.
For example, the album supplies great intros that really help glide the listener into these songs and then pairs them with some great outros that almost make you hate leaving them. The record is chock full of great and lengthy guitar solos that bolster every single song they appear in; which is 95% of the record. And there are some exceptionally harmonized backing vocals that clearly draw influences from the likes of Bon Jovi, The Eagles, and Pink Floyd; how could you not find yourself singing along?
Overall, the album has the feel of later-era Bon Jovi work, reminding me most of 1995’s “These Days”, without the over bloated sense of meandering. Make no mistake, this is a rock and roll record, with eight of its thirteen tracks ranging from five to six-minutes in length, but unlike the continued catalogs from classic artists, Walking Tall’s “Life Happens Here” is wall to wall hit singles.
Be that as it may, the album is not without its problems. Largely those are production and mixing based issues that ultimately have an effect on the listener. The effects aren’t crippling, but the audio issues could keep these songs, in their current form, from being as successful as they might be.
Let me be clear, these are perfectly radio friendly songs already, but I’ll bet you $6 that if any one of them were refined to fit and then rerecorded by one of today’s New Country artists, they would become runaway hits; and to me that’s a songwriter’s success. Brett Santti and James Tuttle have delivered a good record, but what’s more, is that they’ve produced a fantastic calling card to an industry that introduces a pair of songwriters worth mining the talents of.
And if you’re so inclined, or just interested in the band and their music, videos, tour info, booking, merch, etc; you can visit their website here: https://walkingtallband.com/
Note: Be sure to check your listening station. I’m not sure how, or on what, the album was mixed, but it sounded absolutely awful on my home system (which to be fair, is set up for films), and with just one headphone in. However, it sounds optimal on my computer, both with and without the Bose headphones, and in my truck’s cd player; this is an “In Stereo” record for sure.
Now, let’s break this thing down track by track:
“These Are the Good Times” (vocals by Brett & James) –Solid guitars and drums throughout, including a great solo and a super brief but cool guitar outro. The Pre-chorus and Bridge harmonies come at you a bit strong but they each give way to some welcoming lead vocals w/ good harmonies and backing vocals on an absolutely superb Chorus. One with an upbeat/optimistic attitude, that spell smiles for the listener, especially if you’re driving.
Melodic Lyric Note (...and, this is the Summation of the entire album): “Someday I’ll wish I was here”
“Unreachable” (vocals by Brett) – Welcome and well-placed harmonies lead this song to be considered for more than just it’s melancholic performance, as it reminds me that I’m not the only one to feel this way and ultimately neither are you. A nice piano step-down leads to a note-worthy guitar solo from Brett. There’s also an organ buried in the foundation of the song that’s hard to spot but impossible to miss, ultimately strengthening the track as it secretly envelopes the listener. The track is capped with the perfect outro, this one being an all-too familiar voice recording that seals the song’s deal.
Lyric Note: “I no longer cast a shadow, it’s just a waste of time”
“Better Luck Next Time” (vocals by James) – Man I love this song, but there’s a stumbling and stunted abruptness to it that makes it feel unfinished to me. The song begins with a great acoustic lead over a healthy electric rhythm. The verses are melodic and ruddy, while the chorus and bridge melodies sound just off the beat; that is until the final chorus, which sounds fantastic and demonstrates just how good this song is. I absolutely love the solid and almost grinding guitar solo, while I’d like a complete redo of the drum track; see: “stunted abruptness”.
Melodic Lyric Note: (backing vocals) “Better luck..Better luck next time”
Bonus Melodic Lyric Note: “Nighty-Night”
“Just the Truth” (vocals by Brett) – My favorite matching intro and outro on the record delivers an unexpectedly warm and welcoming piano/drum duet. There’s also a quiet but strong lead guitar under the chorus that I absolutely love. Brett’s vocals sound a little tired but welcomingly smoky throughout. This mix houses some really strong Pink Floyd-type backing vocals ala “The Show Must Go On” that don’t always work.
Melodic Lyric Note: “Don’t give me no sharp mind…just the truth”
“If These Walls Could Talk” (vocals by James) – The piano intro sets the stage for this track that boasts a more contemplative perspective. The song is supported by a good melody w/ some pronounced female backing vocals, a strong guitar solo, and some deeper thoughtful lyrics. These elements are ultimately woven through some great underlying guitar work and a well-constructed and patient chorus that coalesce to make this one of my favorite songs on the record; even through some awkward piano playing.
Melodic Lyric Note: “If..These..Walls..Could-Talk”
“The Last Goodbye” (vocals by Brett) – Absolutely the best song on the album, as it boasts the best mix and overall use of vocals and instrumentation on the record. Beginning with an excellent guitar/piano/drum lead-in that sees itself combining with a series of simple vocal rhymes, excellent backing vocals, and a healthy, albeit short, guitar solo to make all the song’s “feels” strike home. Sometimes ‘simple’ makes things best, Yo!
Melodic Lyric Note: (Talk is cheap when the Well runs deep) “Well, I’ve been your fool in denial”
“Wounded” (vocals by Brett) – A heavily effected track that sees some really funky zig-zaggy heavy bass organ thing going on long before you get to the subdued guitar solo. The lyrics use a hand-full of modern references, which I actually kind of dig, to sell the point that, and to turn a phrase on, “I’m not dying, but I’m wounded”. At points throughout the song Brett’s lead vocal is mixed a bit too low for me, allowing the backing vocals to sometimes overpower him. Oddly, it still works.
Lyric Note: “When he’s wounded, like I am”
“Life Happens Here” (vocals by James) – A really solid and well-constructed track beginning with a nice piano/guitar intro that flows into James’ equitable lead vocal, ultimately building to a great melodic and messaged chorus, which then winds down through a brief vocal outro. And Dude, that plethora of lingering guitar notes during the solo…Perfect.
Melodic Lyric Note: “Because Life. Happens Here. Every…Day…”
“Is That All There Is” (vocals by Brett) – An absolutely fantastic track that makes a strong argument for best song on the album. I really really like James’ guitar work in this song. Superb Eagles-style backing vocals and a real Eagles-vibe throughout; kinda wishing that was the story of my life.
Melodic Lyric Note: “Life can be so complicated”
“Bleed Your Name” (vocals by James) – Detailed with an appropriately melancholic piano intro and ultimately accompanied by a perfectly acoustic guitar solo, this track deals with the heartache and pain experienced after the death of a lover. I don’t know why, but the subject matter feels almost too much for the record overall. It’s not, I guess, as it’s perfectly themed in the here and now, but there’s an obvious weight to the track that makes it the heaviest listen and least repeatable track, for me personally, on the record.
Note: There’s some vocal chaos going on in the late 4th minute of the song. It clears up during the 5th minute, thankfully ending this one on a higher note.
“Time Is the Enemy” (vocals by Brett) – I absolutely love this song. Such a smooth beginning, gliding the listener in and then sailing them along. You can almost feel those winds, more like a pleasant breeze, of change.
Note: There’s some fantastic guitar work going on in the background of this song.
“I Wouldn’t Change A Thing” (vocals by Brett) – The most underproduced song on the record; there’s a bit of white-noise and an aged sound at the beginning of the track. I was originally not a fan of the keyboard pacing on this one, but it kind of grows on you. A decent chorus, containing an ultimately bolstered and healthy pride, help sell the song’s theme. Brett delivers a Bridge that’s a melodic high note and a really strong guitar solo before exiting the track.
Lyric Note: (...and my favorite line from the album) “I guess amazing dreams have been made out of stranger things”
“My Time” (vocal by James) – A more mature song from, and for, a more mature man. Not too many of these out there. James delivers a worthy, and often catchy, vocal melody here, and I really like the sentiment of the song. It’s the only track on the record with a noted piano solo, and there’s some great trade-off and harmonizing guitar work that help make this, almost oddly, one of the highlights of the album.
Note: I say, “almost oddly” because I actually feel a little shy singing this one “out loud”. It’s all, making my face blush and bubbling those familial/parental emotions to the surface and shit. …(sniff) fucking Thanks, James.
Lyric Note: “Raising a family is a labor of love”…middle-age problems, Yo!
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