It brings a smile to my face to hear a new entity from Seattle who doesn't follow the herky-jerky indie rock of Modest Mouse nor the plaintive folk of Death Cab for Cutie. Tj Sherrill (http://www.tjsherrill.com) is simply being himself, a come-as-you-are singer/songwriter with six excellent tunes on "High Horse."
Sherrill thanks Jesus Christ as his savior on the sleeve, but whether or not these tracks speak of Christian teachings is something that lyric interpreters could spend a day or two picking out. For me, I'd rather focus on Sherrill's singing, which has more in common with the boyish charm of '70s power-popsters like Big Star and the Raspberries than with the Jack Johnson clones of today. You can always tell when a musician is a Beatles fan; the evidence is often found in their harmonies. "Rocks in the Road" is a blissful Beatles-ish diamond given an Oasis-like ragged glory. Even the production is reminiscent of the Beatles' earlier work as the main vocals and the back-up singing are given a decidedly folksy, unpolished finish; you can almost hear the scratches in the vinyl.
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"Surgery" glows with a Coldplay-esque radiance. Although not as instantly impacting as Coldplay's best stuff, "Surgery" lights up the dimmest of evenings with its fireplace prettiness. There is plenty to appreciate on "High Horse." Don't let it slip away.
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