Tommy and The Fallen Horses - Album Review: OpenHearts
Wellington band Tommy and the Fallen Horses have just released a new album OpenHearts after a 5-year hiatus.
The band is firmly straddling the Alt-Country, and Folk-Rock genres and are being hailed as one of the most compelling groups to emerge from New Zealand’s rich musical landscape in the past decade.
Hyperbole aside the album opens with the gently swaying If I Was Gonna Make It; the song displaying Tommy Benefield’s songwriting chops. It’s easy to hear the mass and commercial appeal in his music, and in particularly the way the album has been produced. It’s very slick.
Book Of A Lifetime follows raising the tempo a bit. Benefield’s vocals are in the foreground of the mix, sitting on the well-polished instrumental bed. I can’t help but wonder if he’s spent time in the USA, or has American heritage, as there’s a distinct American twang in his accent and I can’t help but wonder if he’s putting it on, which (in my opinion) would be a disappointment.
Daylight and Countin' The Hours roll by quite serenely, with the latter having more spark, or drive.
Ahead of listening to the song I assume that Half A Bottle is a drinking song. Well partially correct, Tommy also mentions rolling joints too.
God Ain’t Love is a great challenging song title and the content backs up it up well. Musically it is the same syrupy country pop by numbers, as will much of the LP. Pretty cool controversial song title for this genre.
I Don’t Mind is lyrically naïve, right from the get-go. "Oh oh, looking for my band to play with, oh oh, looking for some girl to lay with." It’s just a jolt coming from a song which would challenge the foundations of your typical God-fearin’, country music lovin’ southern Baptist Christian.
The 13-song album is a strong collection of songs which should collect new fans, as his music has already appeared on TV programs including Shortland St, and Outrageous Fortune, as well as on Radio New Zealand National.
The album is produced by Geoff Maddock who crafted Goldenhorse’s commercial triumph Riverhead.
Personally, I’d like to hear more edge, or a little roughness around the edges, but it is excellently produced none-the-less.
About Tommy and The Fallen Horses
After a five year hiatus, Tommy and The Fallen Horses return with their sophomore album, Openhearts. Described by Nick Bollinger as “soul-baring, heartfelt and well-crafted,” Openhearts is deeply rooted in emotive melodies and driving alt-country riffs — the quintessential road-trip record. The album, produced by Geoff Maddock (the mastermind behind Goldenhorse’s commercial triumph Riverhead), is released on 13th September 2019.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Tommy and The Fallen Horses
Other Reviews By darryl baser
MEDaL - Album Review: Sequela
14 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
Christchurch trio MEDaL are a combination of many years of New Zealand musical history. Singer and guitar slinger David Mulcahy was in JPSE and Superette, bass player John Billows has spent time with The Renderers and Dark Matter and drummer Mark Whyte is part of Into The Void.
Read More...
The Bobby Holidays - Album Review: At The Beach
13 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
The Bobby Holidays' At The Beach opens with the song Jane, syncopation is to the fore with a great horn section blowing against bass, drums and guitar. The song has an up tempo happy summer vibe.
Read More...
Mad Cow - Single Review: Same Boat
01 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
Same Boat is the latest single to be released Taranaki 3-piece Mad Cow. Mad Cow are mainstays of the New Plymouth have been around since the 1990’s in the North Island’s music scene, evolving from school band No Comment.
Read More...
23 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
It might seem like George D Henderson has been a part of the New Zealand music landscape for about as long as Keith Richards has been playing guitar. He’s been in the Flying Nun arena with The Puddle based in Dunedin.
Read More...
Nika - Single Review: Saviour Complex
03 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
A song with an interesting title will always grab my attention, and the idea of people with a saviour complex has always fascinated me, so when the new song by Nika called Saviour Complex was offered to me to review I almost somersaulted. The song opens with a gently and alluring piano melody before Nika’s voice kicks in and from the first notes some vocal training is obvious.
Read More...
The RVMES - Single Review: Simple Things
05 Oct 2022 // by darryl baser
Oh My God. There are bangers then there’s this tune.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - EP Review: Love Games
25 Aug 2022 // by darryl baser
Veronika Bell, known to music fans as Vikae, has been composing and producing music for a good few years, and is gaining some crossover traction between the dance and pop worlds. While she writes many of her tunes on a piano, and can perform them beautifully with piano and her impressive voice, it is the dance-styled pop versions of her tune which have been garnering her acclaim.
Read More...
Mecuzine - Album Review: Locksmith Thief
21 Jul 2022 // by darryl baser
Now that’s a great way to open an album. Bruised and Broken is the first track of Mecuzine’s new album Locksmith Thief, and my god what an epic track to open their new record.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- TOO SWEET
Hozier - BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Benson Boone - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
Artemas - SATURN
SZA - STICK SEASON
Noah Kahan - END OF BEGINNING
Djo - LIKE THAT
Future And Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
Ariana Grande
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
