If Breaking Down The Silence rockets up the charts, and it absolutely has the strength to do so, Jeff Tuohy could certainly make a play for Kate Hudson or Jessica Simpson. Akin to John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Daniel Powter, this handsome, singer-songwriter-guitarist wears his heart all over his sleeve and then some, yet he puts forth a high level of musicianship and pop songwriting expertise that makes this listen most pleasurable to a wide audience (i.e. teens, Gen X-ers and their moms). Melding classic rock, adult contemporary, and folk, Tuohy emerges as man of all seasons. The romantic troubadour surfaces in “Serenade”, a lush waltz abetted with strings and forlorn melodies. Waxing anthemic “Fields of Grey” bursts forth with power chords, blues riffs, and jazzy sax lines worthy of Argent and Soft Machine in their kaleidoscopic 70s glory. Based on Robert Duncan’s 1960 poem “The Opening of the Field”, the final track “Often I Am Permitted to Return to a Meadow” affords Tuohy, accompanied by minimal acoustic guitar, a chance to show off his formidable vocal prowess. Major labels should lap this one up.
~ Tom Semioli
