{"id":6471,"date":"2019-07-09T05:00:20","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T05:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=6471"},"modified":"2019-07-04T19:18:59","modified_gmt":"2019-07-04T19:18:59","slug":"tyler-bryant-the-shakedown-truth-and-lies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=6471","title":{"rendered":"Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown \u2013 \u2018Truth And Lies\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Looking in from the outside, it\u2019s easy to be skeptical of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown. The young Nashville based band seemingly came from nowhere, bagged a record deal and toured the world supporting AC\/DC and Guns n\u2019 Roses in arenas, after just one, low key album release. A dream for any young band, but not every young band can get that kind of breaks. It takes more than having a guitar prodigy fronting your band and the son of Aerosmith\u2019s Brad Whitford backing him up on rhythm guitar to bag the sort of tours these guys have been getting on…doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

When you are lauded by the likes of BB King and Jeff Beck it must be hard to keep your head out of the clouds, but Tyler Bryant and his band have kept grounded and paid their dues like any other rock \u2018n\u2019 roll band, through sheer hard work and determination to put on the best show they can.<\/p>\n

Fair play, it turns out these guys got those tours on their live performance alone and not on who they know. Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown have paid their dues in the clubs and if you have been lucky enough to catch them live, you will know you can\u2019t fake that sort of energy, or stage that quality of performance.<\/p>\n

But to stay alive in this musical climate, being a great live band is not enough, you\u2019ve got to have something special to keep people\u2019s attention and you have to have the songs to back it up.<\/p>\n

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Which brings us to Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown\u2019s third full-length album \u2018Truth And Lies\u2019. Recorded in Williamsburg, NY by producer Joel Hamilton (The Black Keys, Tom Waits), \u2018Truth And Lies\u2019 is a heady mix of 80\u2019s and 90\u2019s bluesy hard rock, following the same stadium-sized path as its self-titled predecessor.<\/p>\n

But for me, the band have never captured the energy of their live show, and on record, they come across as a country-tinged Bon Jovi, and funnily enough if you had told me this was the lost album between \u2018These Days\u2019 and \u2018Crush\u2019 I would surely believe you!<\/p>\n

Yes, back in the mid 90\u2019s when rock music was a bit edgy and bands were taking risks, \u2018Truth and Lies\u2019 would have fitted in just nicely. It has a grungy feel to a lot of the straight out rockers. For example, album opener \u2018Shock & Awe\u2019 rides on a sludgy, Jerry Cantrell like riff and a stadium-sized chorus that fits the bill. It\u2019s a great track that sets the scene. The trouble is, that scene is a little bit staid and a whole bit generic.<\/p>\n

The rockier tunes are solid enough but don\u2019t really grab the attention. The likes of \u2018On To The Next\u2019, \u2018Eye To Eye\u2019 and \u2018Panic Button\u2019 are blues-rock by numbers and not particularly inspiring or memorable. The annoying thing is, I know these tunes will absolutely crush when they play them live.<\/p>\n

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For me, this band truly shine when they take things down a notch. The heartfelt \u2018Out There\u2019 with its lone, finger-picked acoustic guitar and sentimental lyricism is a beautiful piece of music. With Eastern vibes and a sense of yearning, this is a top track that hits the spot. And \u2018Judgement Day\u2019 is the piece de resistance of \u2018Truth and Lies\u2019. Drummer Caleb\u2019s simple beats and the haunting effects back up Tyler\u2019s raspy vocal, his lone, finger-picked acoustic guitar complimenting just perfectly. A sweet, slide solo and swampy vibes make this a stand out track.<\/p>\n

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You could say The Shakedown are at their best when they are just kicking back and playing the blues. The southern rock vibes of \u2018Trouble\u2019 sit well and \u2018The Ride\u2019 is a ZZ Top inspired piece of blues-rock that flows along nicely. A jaw-dropping, yet understated piece of soloing from the frontman makes this a bit of a showstopper.<\/p>\n

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I get the sense that this album is make or break for Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown. They are young, hungry and they look the part, as with their previous albums, their fan base will adore \u2018Truth and Lies\u2019 and I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll gain them plenty more. But, I don\u2019t think they really have the songs and that\u2019s what counts above all else.<\/p>\n

Already the competition is high for album releases this year, and for me \u2018Truth & Lies\u2019 is an average album from a truly exceptional live band.<\/p>\n

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Buy Truth And Lies Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Author: Ben Hughes<\/p>\n