Travis Singleton
Not Broken Yet
The easiest way to describe Travis Singleton’s scissor-sharp contemporary folk would be Starbucks with balls. Indeed, Singleton avoids a common mistake among youthful male singer/songwriters: He doesn’t bore us. While many of his contemporaries are so in love with their playing that they neglect to recognize the increasingly short attention spans of their listeners, Singleton keeps each track busy with lyrical insights, vocal flair, and energetic, brittle riffs. In other words, Singleton is closer to the “alternative” side of the Triple-A genre.
“The Rise, The Fall” reveals Singleton’s collegiate side, penning enigmatic lyrics that are made for dorm-room analysis. While it’s probably the most “difficult” track on the record – in other words, you won’t be tapping your feet to it upon the first spin – its meaty guitar work gives it weight and longer appeal. Singleton has an achingly pretty voice that nevertheless distinguishes itself from the wide-open space of John Mayer and Jack Johnson clones.
Acoustic pop can be among the dullest of music. Tepid lyrics and faceless vocals, not to mention slow-as-snails pacing, can only provide a temporary respite from insomnia. Thankfully, Singleton is a shiny new talent who has learned the mistakes of his contemporaries and is taking a different road.
Travis Singleton: http://www.travissingleton.com
