A career musician who has already proven his talent several times over, Tyler Carter returns with his most intimate work to date.
There is a saying that suggests the only way to be successful in business is to diversify your offerings. Consumers are easily distracted, people say, so you should never rely on what has worked in the past when considering where you will go moving forward. That idea applies to music as well. A great song or sound may get you far, but you can always go further by keeping listeners on their toes. Many artists may attempt to expand, but few pull it off as well as Tyler Carter.
A staple of the modern alternative scene, Tyler Carter is a musical chameleon whose signature croon has given the world anthems that will outlive us all. He’s got the kind of voice you would expect to hear at pop radio, especially in the era of artists such as blackbear and Jon Bellion, but he’s best known as a hard rock vocalist. The majority of his time is spent with Issues, an abstract metal act that combines a variety of sonic influences to challenge the perception of metal without completing alienating fans of the genre. It’s a challenging line to walk, but Carter and his bandmates make it look easy. Case in point, the band’s 2019 album was one of the year’s most celebrated releases. Not just in metal, but in music as a whole.
But Carter is more than a one-band man. His talent in various groups is equally matched by his brilliant solo career, which has admittedly taken a backseat to some of his more high-profile projects (such as Issues). When working alone, Carter has more room to experiment and develop as a songwriter. His solo material allows him to fully express himself as he asserts creative control over each song rather than being a contributing part of a whole. The results are often more cathartic than any other material he releases.
Carter’s latest release, Moonshine (Acoustic), is a stripped-down take on his 2019 solo record that features a pair of new recordings. The first, a new track titled “Escape My Love,” offers a beautiful ode to someone who doesn’t understand the power they possess. It’s mostly a love song, but also something of an anthem for anyone who hides from mirrors and feels like they don’t deserve the things everyone else gets in life. Carter wants those individuals he will always be there for them, as will the people who love them.
The second new offering is a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s timeless hit, “Landslide.” The challenge with covering a beloved song is finding a way to meet expectations while putting a fresh spin on a track people have heard countless times. Carter’s take is simple and airy. It’s a showcase of his vocal talents as much as it is an exercise in restraint. He resists the urge to go “too big” in preference of making sure the message resonates. It’s a massive success.
With Moonshine (Acoustic), Tyler Carter cements his place as one of music’s most exciting vocalists. He’s a crooner at heart, and it shows throughout this release. “Glow,” for example, brings the hazy chaos of a late-night rendezvous between lovers into a beautiful place that is undeniably compelling. “Good Things,” on the other hand, finds happiness in the simple joys of life. There is no topic Carter is afraid to tackle, nor a single track where his soulful voice fails to connect with the listener. We didn’t need more proof of Tyler Carter’s talent, but if anyone remains on the fence, this record will convert them.
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