Printer-friendly versionDuring a short hiatus from the Dave Matthews Band, famed violinist Boyd Tinsley has put together an evocative new solo album, True Reflections. Surprisingly, Tinsley's skills as a violinist take second place to his raw, emotive vocals, as he demonstrates a new side of his musicality to audiences. However, his introspective lyrics leave much to be desired as the album is filled with love song after love song. His writing lacks originality, but his haunting vocals and the peaceful, folk-like instrumentation create a tranquil, pleasing album nonetheless.
The album, a Bama Rags/RCA release, also boasts an impressive collection of musical guests, including The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dave Matthews and Toshi Reagan, who add to the album's soulful, distinct style. Tinsley also offers a powerfully tender rendition of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl"--possibly the most impressive song on the album. A few of the more memorable songs include "Show Me," with beautifully harmonized back-up vocals, and a raw bluesy feel, "A Long Time to Wait," in which Tinsley's brooding voice whispers over light instrumental support, and the title track, "True Reflections," which, of all of the songs, contains the most insightful, original lyrics. "Perfect World," however, while it contains a powerful anti-war message, does not impress musically, nor do some of Tinsley's more clich‚d love songs.
On the whole, Tinsley has demonstrated his ability to take on a number of musical roles, and provided his audience with an album that contains a great deal of talent and evocative, heartfelt lyrics. His voice shows surprising strength, yet speaks to vulnerability. Still, his songwriting skills come up short. Essentially, Tinsley has taken lyrics that seem to belong to old-fashioned love songs, and turned them into a diverse, well-performed album that, though beautiful in it's tranquil musicality, does not necessarily stand out.
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I feel really sorry for the people who do not listen to the Dave Matthews band. It is ashame that you subject yourself to poor music. If you were more open minded and listened to the music of Dave Matthews, I think you would see things differently. Not only does he have a beautiful voice and an extremely talented band, but his lyrics are so interesting and complex. You are just to shallow and close minded to appreciate an excellent musician. I am 24 years old and feel that we are deprived of the good musicians that the people in the 1960's and 70's were able to grow up with. Dave Matthews is one of the most talented, intelligent, and musically inclined men in musical history. Each one of his songs are completely different from the other. He has so many different sounds and styles of music. Not many artists in our generation write their own music and lyrics. I guarantee that he is and always will be and influence to so many artists. So my suggestion to you is treat yourself to a few hours of good DAVE listening, take a look at some of the lyrics,and you will change your mind.
Krissy, teacher
sc
kris362@aol.com
I would like to strongly disagree with Krissy. I only have a minute, but I would like to say that Dave Matthews is nothing like you said. He is a horrible person, and I think it's pathetic how so many people follow his music as a religion. Does he write or play any music when he's not drunk or high?
And on the subject of opening our minds to listening to Dave Matthews, there's no way any of us who think for ourselves can get away from him, because he's Everywhere! I even go so far as to listen to his new singles to make sure they suck before I start turning off the radio when he comes on. Gotta go. e-mail me.
FITZ!, student
Philadelphia
mikeeee02@aol.com
i cant believe you think dave sucks...i think he is one of the greatest musicians out there..anyways , id just like to say that even if you think he does suck, you have a right to your opinion, but i really do not see a basis to this..have you ever listened to his albums? probably not..
instead of bashing other people's music, just be content to listening your own music..no need to bash others..just let us dmb fans be...no need to trash him..his band is one of the top grossing in the world..he is obviously doing something right
danielle, student
edb4132@umoncton.ca
some of my favorite bands are plagued by this freak. o.a.r., jack johnson, pat mcgee, all are compared to this talent-less piece of poo, and its getting real old. down with the meansteam fuck.
walt, student
boston
walt_dedrick@yahoo.com
I just wanted to ask Krissy where all of her points come from. You say "Dave Matthews is one of the most talented, intelligent, and musically inclined men in musical history", just wondering how? How can someone use so many falsettos and have such a nasal unclear voice be considered a talented person? He surrounds himself with allstar performers, and names the band after himself, while he is the worst player in the band. And what makes me say this, is that every beginner guitar player/DuMB fan can play all of his songs, he's one of the most musically inclined men musical history? Kurt Cobain was also influencial does that make him musically inclined?
Johnny
I just have add to this little discussion. I've loved Dave since I was 13. His music has really touched me and I find it extremely easy to connect with it. I think Dave is an acquired taste. He IS extremely talented, all of the band members are. One thing that I really admire about them is that they all write the music together and that they write EVERYTHING. Their music is so complex with all of the different rhythms, tempos, and key signatures, not to mention the poetic lyrics. And for his voice, I think it is so original that it really adds to the character of his music, I love it. Even though he has some bad habits it doesn't mean we have to hate his music. Dave Matthews Band is AMAZING and always will be.
Dave Matthews is a cheap imitation of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. If you want to hear good music, listen to the original
Krissy wrote:
"Dave Matthews is one of the most talented, intelligent, and musically inclined men in musical history."
While I admit that I like some of Dave's work (His performance in central park, and his studio album "before these crowded streets" are nice to listen to), I think you must be a bit insane to have said this.
I hope to god you are not a teacher of music... Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Strauss, Gershwin, Coltrane... these are true musical masters.... Dave Matthews cannot fit into this panthenon of musical greatness.
you are dumb
Dave's a talentless,self-centered, drunk moron and his fans don't know jack about music. I used to listen to Dave's albums and they used to be not half bad. But, then he got his head stuck so far up his a** that now he can't write a decent song to save his life and even the talented band he has can't carry him anymore. But yet a s**t ton of idiot frat boys and college coeds that know nothing but text messaging, ugg boots, black spandex and a North Face seem to buy into the facade that he's god's gift to music so that they can all be the same boring person as each other and no one will make fun of them because, let's face it, that's really the key to life isn't it? Dave Sucks.
OK kiddies, lesson time. I'm an old fart who was as DeadHead. When Jerry died, the frat boys went to Dave and the druggies went to Phish. The rest of us discovered the vast musical expanse of the present and preceding 40 years, sans Dave and Phish. And here we are.
I like listening to Dave Matthews music because I enjoy it. I dont think hes the best artist in the world, or anything like that, and I am not a frat boy who simply likes getting fucked up. I am someone who just appreciates music in general, and ever since going to see Dave Matthews play live, I have started listening to his live music more often. Me and my father went last summer to see him, and plan on going again this summer. The band puts on a great show, and if they didnt enjoy it, they wouldnt still be a part of it. If Dave Matthews was a selfish asshole because he named the band after himself, the band wouldve changed it by now or left him.
Btw, whoever the douche is who said that Dave Matthews was a cheap ripoff of the Flecktones, you must not know that the saxophonist who plays on tour with them is the same one from the Flecktones...
Also, lets all remember that a bands fans dont make the music. I will agree with you that a lot of people who like Dave Matthews Band are douchebags who get drunk and go to the concerts and dont really even care about the music. However, the people who can appreciate music, like myself, and enjoy it, are also fans.
You all seem to have missed the point that the piece is not, in fact, about Dave Matthews, but Boyd Tinsley.
I love that people judge a band's talent based on their fans. I've been to 91 dave matthews band shows, and every one of them is full of people that I can't stand. But the music is what make this experience tolerable.
The bottom line is that DMB is a group of amazing musicians, most specifically Carter Beauford. Carter has the largest, most elaborate drum set in use in the world, and he literally uses every piece in every show. He is the heart and soul of the band. Boyd Tinsley is an amazing violinist, who has incorporated a wawa pedal as well as strumming his violin to add to the complex sounds of this band. Stefan Lessard is a bass prodigy who has played with the band since he was 16. Leroi Moore was a tremendous horn player, who has been gracefully replaced by Jeff Coffin and Rashawn Ross, talented in their own rights.
Dave Matthews may very well be the weakest musician of the group. He has long described his lack of classical training, and his strumming is often drowned out by the orchestral sounds around him. His writing is brilliant at times(check out Don't Drink the Water, a remembrance of the desecration of the American Indians), and simple minded at others.
The band was named after him because they simply couldn't come up with a better name. Dave originally recruited the band members to play a few of his songs, and at their first show they didn't have a name. They needed to write a name down on a list for their performance spot, and they best described themselves as Dave Matthews' band. The name stuck, and has hung around since.
Listen, there is a ton of music that I don't like. But the last thing that I would waste my time doing is crapping all over something that other people enjoy. When I find music I don't like, I don't listen to it and I sure as hell don't post on the blogs related to that band or genre. The haters on this page are losers, and they have nothing better to do with their time.
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!
Dave is an asshole. Met him. Fucking prick.
This just goes to show how shallow minded so many people are. If you don't like Dave Matthews, don't fuckin listen to him! Its that simple! And if you are one of the people that dont like him, have some respect for those of us who do! I don't go looking on the internet for artists i don't like an write utter shit about them. Grow up.
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