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Album Details

• Artist: Tony Desimone
• Album: The Second Time Around
• Label: indie
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: mark_morton on 2011-11-11

Tony DeSimone is like musical comfort food. He isn't trying to break any molds or invent new styles of music; he simply employs the tactics he needs to extract an emotional response from the listeners for each song performed. THE SECOND TIME AROUND is chock full of intensely human qualities to which any listener, even tertiary, can relate.

His forte is country-tinged bluesy rock with a journeyman perspective - he's seen a lot, experienced a lot, and is perfectly willing to share his worldview in the hopes of inspiring the listeners to be better human beings. As previously mentioned, it is a sound that is not unfamiliar to us. It gave Bruce Springsteen his launching point in the 1970s, made John Cougar Mellencamp a household name in the 80s, served as Dave Matthews' building blocks in the 1990s, and spearheaded America's love affair with John Mayer in the 00's. So it is only appropriate that the storytelling front-porch anthems rise again in this decade.

DeSimone has a knack for whole-hearted balladry, as exhibited in the "More Than Words"-influenced title track. He lets us into his soul while weaving his tales of loves won, lost and re-found with minimalist instrumentation.

And yet, the man is also keen to have a good time, with road songs like "High On You" and "Going To California," that bear such windswept freedom that they could have easily been ripped from the Chrissie Hynde songbook.

Although many comparisons are being made to bygone or "vintage" artists, DeSimone's sound transcends the concept of time, as his tales and tunes are relevant to any generation. From the frat-house to the pub to the stadium, he's got what it takes to ease his way into the mainstream conscience.

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