Gery Tinkelenberg - old man

Gery Tinkelenberg

Old Man
self-released; 2013

4.1 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

Something people don't mention about getting older is that it is liberating. You start caring a whole less what people think about you and it feels pretty good. When I listened to Old Man by Gery Tinkelenberg he not only sings about this topic but the whole album emanates that vibe and it pays off immensely. 

Tinkelenberg made a record that 20-year-old Brooklyn hipsters wish they could make. Throughout he finds an excellent balance between accessible harmonies and avant-garde experimentation as he sings about despondent relationships or meeting the grim reaper. The music is just really, really good. He comes up with parts that are immensely enjoyable to an experienced, connoisseur of music. Like sipping a fine wine a lot of enjoyment comes from the subtleties in what he does.

The EP starts off with the best song on the album called “Old Man.” The string part is hypnotic and original as it slowly builds with subtle dissonance. When the drums enter you know you’ve struck gold. It continues to build in a way that does abide by any one of the many clichés of modern post-rock but does its own thing. The song eventually breaks and gives us a bit of constant for Tinkelenberg to sing over. His voice isn’t particularly striking but it fits over the music quite well. Things only get better as the song continues.  The last minute or so is a collage of white noise and strings that added a couple of extra points for me. 

“This Place” sounded like a cocktail between Primus and Bob Drake. At about the halfway point the song gets a bit creepy and psychedelic as if you are roaming in a haunted house after ingesting a couple of magic mushrooms. Let’s just say it’s a breakdown you will not want to miss. “I Could Never Love You” centers around a sweet stand up bass and Tinkelenberg sounding like a boss as he sings about misguided feelings. The best part is when the song sounds like you're getting sucked into an endless black void and then transitions into sweet guitar jazz. Did I just write that? Better put did he just do that?

I think I have covered enough points here for you to realize Old Man is an exceptional album that I’m more than impressed with and will continue to spin for the foreseeable future. If you know what's good for you do the same and take a listen. 

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