Tracking Outside In is truly a solo CD -- Hinkson plays nearly every instrument and produces himself. And yes, on these dozen cuts, the craftsman proves he can work an earnestly bittersweet melody and spin an engagingly personal tale with the best of them. But the former member of bands like Far Gone and Snooper also shows that unlike many troubadours, he's not afraid to plug in, crank up and rock out too. Plus his ear-catching production invests these songs with layers and textures that elevate them far beyond the usual bedroom-fi diary musings. All of which make Tracking Outside In one of the more varied and intriguing solo sets we've heard lately -- and mark Hinkson as a local artist to keep track of. STANDOUTS: The strummy bounce of Everything Solo; the string-sweetened folk-pop of Agreed; the skittery electro-rock of Day One.
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It's not often that an artist can surprise a jaded rock critic. Scott Hinkson has done just that with his new Tracking Outside In album, which seemingly came out of nowhere like a fully formed diamond.

The Winnipegger blends together some pretty disparate sounds, yet still makes accessible tunes. Whip together the majestic ambition of Jeff Buckley, the hooky simplicity of a tougher Tal Bachman, the challenging nature of Failure, and the warm and soft tones of Eric Matthews, and you'll have a strange musical stew. Maybe that recipe's impossible to make, but describing the varied sounds of Tracking Outside In is almost as hard. You try it.

...Hinkson's last release was a soundtrack. So it may not come as a surprise that Tracking Outside In reveals great detail in atmospherics and a wide range of instrumentation. It sounds like a record that was worked on patiently and, maybe, obsessively. 

Hinkson wrote, produced, mixed and mastered every song on the new CD. He also sang and played a multitude of instruments. Maybe his brilliantly catchy first single, "Everything Solo," reflects his Prince-like musical ambition.
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B+ "Subtle intros of quick fingered acoustic strumming and sinuous lyrics as heard in songs like Center/Line and Agreed, are woven throughout the disc, entwined with stiff, powerful songs full of conviction and tied down by rock roots. This braided combination gives the album a well-rounded feel...impeccably timed bursts of raw lyrics and rock, providing a sound that sets him apart from run of the mill pop tarts. While he tracks his way into the ranks of memorable Canadian artists from the cold obscurity of the vast musical unknown, Scott Hinkson has made an album that is well worth a few spins."
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B+ "... on [The Bow Song] Hinkson manages to create not just a song but an environment and a mood. Lately, Everything Solo and On the Inside also warrant some love. Nice stuff, with more to follow, hopefully."
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