Clear & definite arrangements bring bluegrass to life
J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 06/30/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"With that slight air of a festival jam session, singer/songwriter Tim Tolliver and friends bring traditional bluegrass to life on this album, "I am what I am." Yet in contrast to jamming, their song arrangements are clear, and definite.The album starts off with a minor, very ominous sounding song called "Oh Fool, Oh Fool," then moves along to a nostalgic song called "The Man on the Wall." "I'll Be Waiting" and "Solid Black Gold" lead up to the title track, a gospel tune. This album (all original tunes) is studded with mining songs: "Diamond May" and the previously mentioned "Solid Black Gold" are two such songs, dedicated to the "men and women who risk their lives to harvest the earth's natural resources." Although I have never heard of any of the musicians on this album, you might have. Tim Tolliver took lead guitar along with Mark Baker and Tony Brown, who did rhythm guitar as well. Randall Hubbard, Adam Haynes, and Joe Clark brought out the backup and melody on bass, fiddle, and mandolin. Many harmonies laced the vocals of this album, provided by Venus Laney, Wayne Hubbard, Millard Edwards, Cecil Lawson, Jeff Mathis, and Mark Baker.Once again, I am faced with an album sparsely populated with instrumentals. This album, in fact, has none whatsoever. Some of you may think that an album made up entirely of instrumentals would be tedious or boring (for contradiction on this point, listen to "Not All Who Wander Are Lost" by Chris Thile), but they are an essential part of bluegrass as well. The album finishes out with "I Was There," "A Lot of Livin'," "Open it Up," "Mr. Jones," "Oh, Man of God," and "Let Come and Go What May."All in all, on a scale of one-ten considering what's "Bluegrass," Tim Tolliver is right at a safe five. His lead and harmony vocals aren't the traditional Stanley Brothers, and yet they aren't off the deep end of bluegrass like Nickel Creek, either. (Anna Snook, for Nwbluegrass)"
All-original bluegrass with insightful & sensitive lyrics
J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 06/15/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Tim Tolliver, lead vocalist and guitar player for The Virginia Crossties, released his first solo album, "My Main Trial is Yet to Come" to considerable critical acclaim in 2000. Now, Tolliver's second solo project, "I Am What I Am," is out with twelve original songs, equally split between gospel and secular offerings.The project also features some Tony Brown (banjo, rhythm guitar), Joe Clark (mandolin), Mark Baker (lead guitar), Randall Hubbard (bass), and Adam Haynes (fiddle). Harmony vocals are provided by Mark Baker, Millard Edwards, Venus Laney, Wayne Hubbard, Cecil Lawson, and Jeff Mathis.Tim Tolliver was born and raised in Richlands, Virginia, a small coal mining town, and he started playing music when he was eight years old after learning "a few chords on his mother's broom handle while watching Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs on the Martha White Flour Show." It's apparent that Tolliver has a deep love for bluegrass, and he hopes to inspire listeners with the same enthusiasm he feels for the music. Much of his original material is based on personal experience, and songs like Man on the Wall, Solid Black Gold, I Was There, and Mr. Jones provide a greater perspective and insight into who Tim Tolliver is. "Man on the Wall" tells a story of a lost smile and lost love. "Solid Black Gold" is the song of his Virginia coalmining family. "I Was There," a personal favorite, is a sad tale of a woman with troubles and strife who discovers, upon hearing a voice from Heaven, that she is not alone. Using his pleasant baritone voice, Tolliver sings about a lonely, homeless man in the song, "Mr. Jones." The project ends with an inspiring "Let Come And Go What May," which gives us the advice to deal with life's toils by seizing the day.The strength of Tim Tolliver's songs lies in their messages, as conveyed by some sensitive and insightful lyrics that come from this Virginia songwriter's soul. Tolliver's challenge, however, is to find some more memorable melodies for some that will allow these tunes to become bluegrass hits. I enjoy hearing all-original albums like "I Am What I Am," and it's heartening to know that the bluegrass community is full of inspiration and creativity as new songs like Tolliver's are being crafted and recorded. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1