Tinfed
Tried + True
Hollywood
I try like crazy to stick to a positive view on life. The operative word is “try.” Tinfed’s latest, Tried + True, made it hard on me. The opener, “Arrange,” definitely has a nice guitar groove. And “Never Was Sure” is a noble attempt at Nine Inch Nails-style electronica. But I couldn’t get past the posturing whine of lead singer Rey Osburn. (Listeners are never confused about the fact that Trent Reznor’s songs are his emotional struggles incarnate.) Besides, I have a hunch. This whole thing smacks of producer intervention: take notice of the bands perfectly coifed lids. They would fit in nicely on the set of 90210 or whatever teen show has replaced it. I could be completely wrong, and if that’s the case… sorry guys. Maybe they aren’t a music biz version of the Frankenstein monster. If so, more power to the boys for writing their own material, I always have some level of respect for guys or gals who put their rear on the line with something as personal as songwriting. But in this case, it sounds like a cookie cutter collection for the soundtrack of some vanilla Hollywood movie.
Hollywood Records, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521
