Sometimes life is a struggle, and usually it’s about the smallest thing! First and foremost, I’m a fan of art and if I hear or see something that doesn’t fit my own view of what art is, I can do that. It’s an opinion and it’s my own. I mean, someone else I’m sure would have a different opinion on Lil Yacty, believing that his music is the next best thing. How he has over one million twitter follower I just don’t know. Even Charlamagne The God (Breakfast Club Morning Show) told him, “You are the poster child for wack rappers.” Do I digress? I usually do. But with that said, let’s get to the issue at hand.
For those that don’t know TW Walsh, it’s possibly one of the greatest disservices he would receive because Walsh’s volume of work speaks for itself. What is it, 6 albums now, not including his work with David Bazan’s Pedro The Lion or Headphones? Sounds about right. He’s released a new album today which is something I’ve been able to soak in, rotation after countless rotation. Terrible Freedom (Tower Of Song) is the name of the new album. Off the bat, the album takes a mid-tempo approach with the opener “My Generation.” His lyricism seems to show an observation on the culture of modern society in America. It could have turned into a depressingly dark opus but the tone of the music never let’s it dwell in a somber alleyway of despair. He pretty much nails what’s wrong with society today on that track, and gives you an idea that there are more problems than we think there are. But I’m getting lost here, and I’m not focusing much on his lyricism as I am soaking up the rhythms and beauty that’s created within the tracks here. “Dropout” is packed with metaphors but the track distracts, not letting me dissect the words, instead forcing me to soak up the summer magic that lies within it. I’m trying Walsh, I’m really trying but…that beat tho’.

If I’m overstepping boundaries, I apologize. But this album is cleverly tinged with 80s influences I can’t seem to grasp onto. His own press release reads, “The first two records TW Walsh ever bought with his own crumpled cash were Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Van Halen’s 1984. His dad’s vinyl collection was full of albums by The Stones, Zeppelin, and Neil Young, but young Timmy was watching Music Television the day it came on the air, and over the years MTV probably shaped him more than any other single cultural influence.” Yes, seems about right as “Dead Landmines”  circles around big sounds in small spaces. The guitar work strikes me that way while the underlying drifting keyboard adds to that feel. But I’m constantly rushing back to “High Numbers,” and just like “Dropout” it mixes in some classic sounds for 2017, depending on your interpretation of what ‘classic’ may be. But really though, TW Walsh isn’t out to change the world but to just give you interesting and amazing music at the same time with Terrible Freedom. This isn’t coming from a writer’s point of view but from a music fan’s perspective. Walsh should, without a doubt, go down into musical history as an artist that was worth listening to.
 
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