Album Notes

"Another Gleam" is a complete re-recording of Stenson's 2008 album "See That Gleam" -- only this time done right. With elegant production elements that stir the soul and and 2 previously unreleased bonus tracks that round out the varied offering, this now 14-track collection shines brighter than ever before, leaving no question as to "why" Stenson went ahead with the reinvention of an already revered classic.

CRITIC REVIEW #1:
Another Gleam is a look into Stenson’s soul -- each track seemingly more heartfelt and meaningful than the last. The feel of the album invokes twangs of home, of loved ones, of fond memories, of important and unforgettable moments in life.

Stenson’s makeover of this album comes through most significantly in the instrumentals that dwell within it. The richness of the cello, the organ, and the grand piano add a heartfelt quality to every track they meander through. The instruments Stenson chooses add exponentially to the overall composition of the songs, and complement the lyrics beautifully with their ebb and flow.

Lyrically this singer/songwriter’s maturity, spirit, and continual growth is etched in every line of every track they touch. The attention he pays to crafting his folksy wisdom and memory is a tuning fork to the heart, and resonates in these songs’ ability to consistently over-deliver in depth and quality.

A couple favorites of mine…

Cellophane - This song (able to be played above) is a love song. Gentle as it is emotional, with a beauty the violin extenuates and brings to the surface. Somehow this song seems very clean and pretty, without the usual sappiness we tend to see today’s love songs (if they can called that at all). The original album’s namesake, this song is still on my short ‘5 star’ playlist that always tends to be on the shuffle of my life.

Babysitting the Cowboy - In this distant memory, we travel with Stenson to a simpler time, filled with the exploits of a happy youth. The song invokes vivid and colorful imagery of a childhood spent in the imagination only a young boy can dream up. It is a walk down memory lane happily traveled and filled with a simple but emotional language.

In all, Tyler Stenson truly shows us his passion for his craft, and his amazing ability to connect with the listener. This album graduates Stenson from ‘talented, passionate musician’ to ‘this guy is going to hit the big time, and very soon’.

CRITIC REVIEW #2:
Because while mainstream pop and country music tunes of the day are packed with kitschy false sentiment and inappropriate product placement, Stenson’s songs—especially the fine fare on new record Another Gleam, out tonight—remain able narratives untethered to time and place. Stenson’s music may be a bit safe-sounding for the local indie-rock masses, but the man certainly knows how to pen a tune.

CRITIC REVIEW #3:
Tyler Stenson bills his music as “elegant folk,” and who am I to disagree with that? The just-released Another Gleam is his re-recording of his 2008 album See That Gleam (he better complete the trifecta with a remix album entitled Gleaming the Cube), and it’s a perfectly passable recording of sensitive dude folk music, not far removed from the quivering Gap commercial that is Damian Rice, or a surfer brah Jack Johnson. The sensibility of re-recording your old record aside, there is nothing to dislike about Another Gleam—it’s utterly perfect in so many ways...