Tyrone Wells – Hold On

Tyrone Wells – Hold On / 2007 Universal Republic / 12 Tracks / http://www.tyronewells.com /

I had absolutely no idea who Tyrone Wells was when we received the CD here at NeuFutur headquarters. Essentially, Wells gained prominence through having eir songs played on a number of shows I wouldn’t touch with a twenty foot pole. These include: One Tree Hill, Numb3rs, Meet the Barkers, and Three Moons over Milford. Essentially, what starts out “Hold On” is a track that is virtually indistinguishable from the work of a Blessid Union of Souls. In a more contemporary comparison, Wells and John Maher seem to be peas in a pod. This does not mean that ey plays a dated style of rock, but rather that what Wells does on “Hold On” is create a feel-good brand of pop rock that links together Blues Traveler, Dishwalla, and the like into a college-friendly sound.

The guitar work that fuels a track like “Sea Breeze” is reminiscent of a blend of Santana and Bon Jovi. The soulful vocals will be what floats out of many a dorm and frathouse window. The slinky sound of “What Are We Fighting For?” provides individuals with a slightly different sound to ascribe to Wells, but the second that individuals listen to the vocals, it is only a matter of time before individuals can identify the source. It is during “What Are We Fighting For?” that a little bit of a Maroon 5 influences comes into play. Wells will undoubtedly be able to claw eir way up the CMJ charts, and this belief is only solidified with a track like “Falling”. “Falling” has the smoothed-out vocals that will make individuals’ hearts skip a beat.

The guitar work is not cutting-edge, but it provides a nice second type of higher, vocal-like sounds. Any of the twelve tracks on “Hold On” could conceivably make it onto a show like those described above. I don’t see where Wells could expand eir sound any further than is present on “Hold On”. Saying that, it would not be a problem to hear minor variations of this album released every few years. If that was possible, I could completely see Wells assuming the mantle of a Dave Matthews or Jack Johnston. Go and see Wells live when ey is playing a student union or a coffee shop around your college; if you like Matthews, Maher, or the aforementioned Johnson, “Hold On” should be an album that is a must buy.

Top Tracks: She’s Leaving, Jealous Man

Rating: 6.5/10

Sargeant

John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.

Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools

Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.

Contact: editor@neufutur.com