Adam Tuttle - Coal Tree

Adam Tuttle

Coal Tree
self-released; 2016

3.5 out of 5

​By Jamie Funk
​

Adam Tuttle is an artist from Colorado who released a four-song EP entitled Coal Tree. Truth be told there really isn't a whole lot that needs to be said about these songs because how stripped back it is. Tuttle plays a clean piano and sings heartfelt melodies. His piano is basic consisting of mostly major and minor chords. The same could be said for his vocals which stick to palatable, familiar sounding melodies.

​With music like this, lyrics matter. Luckily you can hear everything he sings. He opens with “Need” which has a melancholy, nostalgic vibe. The song title works with the lyrics. In a very broad sense the song seems to flirt with the theme in the Rolling Stone song “You Can't Always Get What You Want.” It's a solid song and I enjoyed it more upon my second listen.

Up next is “Grace” which is more upbeat. This is another solid song but I have to admit I  thought bass and drums would have worked nicely here. That being said the song still works. “Tall” had a tinge of Dave Matthews Band to my ears while the closer “Both” felt the most life affirming and triumphant song of the four.

This EP isn't one that you need to study with headphones. You should know relatively fast whether you dig Tuttle's style. Overall, I think this is a nice introduction to his music. Suffice it to say if he is going to release a full-length I think a little more diversity would be beneficial. Orchestral strings or percussion could be a nice addition. For the time being Coal Tree is a brief EP which I hope is the first of more to come

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