Music Head Wrote:a little too laid back for me

Grade - 1.6

released Sept 27th 2011



from all music

Bio
　

He may be a multi-instrumentalist equally comfortable on guitar, piano, bass, percussion, and vocals, but Tyler Ramsey is best known for his career as a singer/songwriter. The Asheville, N.C., native began refining his sound while living in the western, mountainous region of North Carolina, where he studied local styles of folk music and drew inspiration from the country-blues musicians who used to travel through the area. Ramsey's willingness to collaborate with other musicians led to a lucky break when his friend Bill Reynolds, bassist for Band Of Horses, invited him to visit the band in South Carolina. After striking up a friendship with lead singer Ben Bridwell, Ramsey accepted an invitation to not only open for Band Of Horses on their fall tour, but to join the group as guitarist. Despite this busy schedule, he still found time to write and record his own material. Ramsey's second album, A Long Dream About Swimming Across The Sea, was released in January 2008 by Echo Mountain Records.
　

Album Review

　
Tyler Ramsey joined Band Of Horses in 2007, climbing aboard just before the band hit the road in support of Cease To Begin. He quickly became Ben Bridwell's right-hand man, initially serving as a stand-in for co-founder Mat Brooke (who'd left the lineup to form his own band, (Grand Archives) before graduating to a bigger role on Infinite Arms, where he co-wrote four tracks and shared lead vocals on "Evening Kitchen." With The Valley Wind, he makes a temporary return to the solo career that sustained him before Band Of Horses came calling. With its pastoral arrangements and acoustic fingerpicking, the album bears a strong resemblance to Neil Young. At the same time, it illuminates the degree of influence Ramsey wields over Band Of Horses' sound, since these songs essentially sound like sparse, stripped-down versions of Infinite Arms' slower tracks. Both albums straddle the line between Americana and country-rock, and Valley Wind's vocal harmonies often sound as though they're being bubbled up from the depths of a mountain valley, thanks to the way producer Bill Reynolds (another Band Of Horses heavyweight) shrouds songs like "1000 Black Birds" and "Angel Band" in heavy reverb. Those looking to be swept away by anthemic songwriting will walk away empty-handed, since The Valley Wind rarely rises above a casual breeze. Still, this is the best solo record by an indie rock guitarist since Carl Broemel's All Birds Say, proof that Ramsey's career has more than enough horsepower on its own.


Track Listing


01 – Raven Shadow
02 – The Valley Wind
[video=youtube;d5LXpAPDmCM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5LXpAPDmCM[/video]
03 – 1000 Black Birds
04 – The Nightbird
05 – Stay Gone
06 – Time Is A Changing Line
07 – Angel Band
08 – When It’s Done
09 – All Night　

SteveO Wrote:Thanks MH !!!...I love this track since I love Band of Horses....that's why .

TraceNspace Wrote:I like it too, I like Band of Horses maybe that's why but this sounds different to me.