Review: Doyle Turner 'Sweet, Difficult Sounds'
Review by: Andy Ellis, Writer @andysmileyjay
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Doyle Turner is one of those “y’all gather round” artists. This was evident immediately when I saw him perform for the first time at the cozy, intimate 318 Cafe in Excelsior, Minnesota. And it’s just as prevalent on his new album, Sweet, Difficult Sounds.
He’s a conversationalist and idea ponderer. Luckily for us his best method of doing both just happens to be through song. And he loves including his equally-as-talented friends.
Those friends are there from the get-go on the upbeat opener “Best If I Forget” where he’s perfectly fine with some level of blissful ignorance. It’s a song that’s given a special something thanks to Sarah Morris and Ted Hajnasiewicz who both add their own layer of hope and positive energy when it comes to anything musical. Even on their sad songs, I can’t not smile.
Turner offers a peek into a performer’s onstage inner dialogue on “One Good Night,” with some help on the guitar from the one and only Mary Cutrufello. The song’s production paints the atmosphere and feeling of a perfect warm summer night where the band has just taken the stage, and the fans are starting to gather in front of it. Now all that’s needed is that one moment, be it a guitar solo or soul-baring vocal, to build that magical connection between the two.
Nearly every artist who steps on any stage just wants to connect - even if it’s just one person. That’s one of the many things I’ve learned being part of the local Minnesota music scene. If they can play one song that forges that invisible bridge between two souls, then they’ve won the night.
I even feel Turner put a little something special into this. It’s the clearest, most confident vocal on the record. It’s almost like he’s revealing a secret prayer every artist says to themselves before they play that opening note.
“These Days” is the one I keep coming back to. It’s the one that I think best exemplifies his conversationalist and idea ponderer style I talked about earlier. It’s all here rolled into one song and it’s a great representation of his dedication to the craft.
For him songwriting is a calling, a lifelong journey in refining his approach to it, and finding ways to use it to help make sense everything life throws at us. His voice is that of a tenured community college professor whose lectures are always packed.
He closes on an optimistic note on “Coming Round.” To drive that point home he brings back Morris and Hajnasiewicz to help remind us it’s going to be okay. Even though it may not seem like it in the moment.
Turner is no better than you or I. He’s just a guy with a guitar who wants to help people navigate through life as happy as possible. And it’s no secret that’s easier with a little help from your friends.
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