After spending two years as a member of Conor Oberst's Mystic Valley Band, Taylor Hollingsworth returns to the solo game with Life with a Slow Ear, an earthy album that tones down the Mystic Valley Band's lush, electric stomp. Like the Mystic Valley Band, Slow Ear takes its cues from country-rock and roots music, but it does so with a narrower scope, sticking mostly to Hollingsworth's acoustic guitar and tinny vocals. There's no critiquing Hollingsworth's talent as a guitarist -- he's a versatile pro, riffing on his unplugged instrument with all the flair he showed on his more electric-based projects -- and he's a competent lyricist to boot, with witty songs that spin tales of drug-fueled childhood shenanigans and adult lust. The guy can't sing a note to save his life, however. His vocals are alternately deadpan and squeaky-high, sometimes bordering on such cartoonish levels of helium-pitched nasality that they completely undermine his guitar playing. Hollingsworth may be a solid songwriter, but he's no vocalist, and these songs would sound infinitely stronger if he brought in someone else to sing them.
Life with a Slow Ear
Taylor Hollingsworth
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Life with a Slow Ear Review
by Andrew Leahey
Track Listing
Title/Composer | Performer | Time | Stream | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 03:19 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
2 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 02:58 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
3 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 04:22 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
4 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 03:47 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
5 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 02:57 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
6 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 02:59 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
7 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 03:14 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
8 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 04:10 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
9 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 03:44 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
10 | Taylor Hollingsworth | 03:10 | SpotifyAmazon |