ALBUM REVIEW: NAYLOR STONE - ‘THE GAME OF THEY’
Naylor Stone, a highly accomplished guitarist, has released his first album, 'The Game of They.' Along with the guitar, Naylor has demonstrated his musicality with flying colors on various instruments. Yet Naylor shines best in his lyrical prowess - he's unwavering, unafraid, and unapologetic and doesn't understand the word apprehensive.
On 'The Game of They,' he cordially invites the listener to sit down, perhaps with a delicious beverage of their choosing, and ingest the audio waves with an open canvas. As the album evolves, Stone becomes the Bob Ross of folk/blues music, slapping sonically vibrant colors meticulously in arrangements worthy of being hung over the mantel. So, without further ado, let's tap into Stone's six-track EP:
"If It Wasn't For The Trees" kicks off the album with a subtle array of elongated guitar riffs and hums. Think of it as a mildly spicy appetizer to a main meal that's destined to be spicy. His vocals are sometimes distant, yet pick up steam when he wants you to be alerted to critical lyrics.
The title track, "The Game of They," kicks off as a ballad with a collection of ragtime-like drums, soft yet profound electric guitar, and Stone's trademarked raspy vocals. A fantastic, twangy guitar makes its sound known during the bridge, which will make the listener focus on how fun this track is. At a few points during the song, Stone goes all Tiny Tim and falsettos, which makes the song feel even more whole and eclectic.
"Love Me, Little Lazy" returns the tempo to the ground level. Soft, brushed drums compliment an eerie array of guitar notes, which butt up against an almost hidden piano. Oh, if only this piano had been a bit more prominent in the beginning, but don't fret, the ivories take center stage during the bridge, which elevates this track to new heights. "Love Me, Little Lazy" might be the best track on the album thus far.
The next track, "In The Meantime," has a familiar warmth yet is completely all Naylor Stone. "How do you live in the meantime?" is the brunt of the chorus lyrically, which is the question of the century. If you took a considerable part of Kurt Vile and mixed in many other folky artists, you'd come up with this.
"Top Me Up" has a very southern, bluegrass-like feel that will captivate the listener from the get-go. As the chorus rounds the bend, the listener will be excited by an incredibly catchy array of notes. Although subtle, the harmony on this track is highly enticing to the ear.
"With All My Friends" closes the six-track EP with a graceful lull on all the familiar instruments. As the song progresses, it picks up speed and crescendos nicely in all the right parts. This is a great track to listen to while sitting next to the pool (or in the hot tub if you're in the snowy parts of the world).
Clearly, Naylor Taylor is blessed with an abundant passion for creating music that tugs on the heartstrings. His music will eternally cling to their lives and be the heralds of cherished anthems for decades for those who consume blues, rock, and folk. Naylor Taylor is definitely one to watch.