By Megan King
Twenty year old Tyler Hilton has something that musicians twice his age could only dream of – a recording contract and debut album with Maverick Records. Hailing from California, Hilton’s new CD, The Tracks Of Tyler Hilton, displays a young man much more mature and experienced than his 20 years let on. Compared to John Mayer and other up-and-coming singer/ songwriters like Ryan Cabrera, Hilton’s 11-track CD is an honest album with a true pop-folk feel.
The first track, “When it Comes” is a great opening song; with lyrics like “So I wait for fate to find me / A ball of string unwind me / uncomfortable as a centerfold”, Hilton shows early on in the album why he deserves that Maverick deal. As his first single, Hilton is sure to gain loyal top-40 radio listeners with “When it Comes.” Other notable songs like “The Letter Song” and “Glad” are definite toetappers, and display Hilton’s confidence in the midst of a relationship crisis in a fun, but self-assured manner.
Track four, “Rolling Home,” is a slower tune, reminiscent of many older folk/rock hits of the 70s and 80s. Quite possibly the hidden gem of the CD, “Rolling Home” gives the album that easy listening, throwback feel that makes The Tracks of so enjoyable. Hilton showcases more insightful and mature lyrics in “Our Time” – his raspy, unique vocals sing “And I’m leaving behind / The you in my mind / And though I know it’s new / It’s something I’ll try”, while a great guitar line plays underneath.
Track eight picks up the tempo of the album; “Kiss On” is just a genuine, fun song about…you guessed it – kissing. An obvious audience favorite at concerts, “Kiss On” gives Hilton a chance to showcase his distinctive, raspy voice in an upbeat, crowd-pleasing way. “Picture Perfect” is a great closer to the album, with just Hilton’s vocals and a gentle guitar melody to support it.
While The Tracks Of Tyler Hilton displays a very talented young singer/songwriter, it is clear that, musically, Hilton has a lot of growing up to do. The album is a great start, but a few tracks on the CD are definite filler-material. And while the entire album is far from a miss, it is hard to call it a hit. Fortunately for Hilton, however, he’s got quite a lot of time to perfect his material and become a successful and eminent musician.
