Fans of Tim Wildsmith are starting to get used to change. His 2007 alternative pop release, A New Morning, was a radical leap from his debut, Come Out Clean, in 2005. And now, armed with a new band, he's changing things up even more on his new album Little Armor.
Tim and his band, The Lost Cause, played their first show together in the fall of 2007. The band is made up of veterans Matthew Tobias on drums and Jason Burkum on bass, along with guitarists Jake Adams and Craig Hughes. Unlike his first two albums, where various studio musicians cut the tracks without ever playing the songs live, Little Armor is full of songs that came to life on stage long before they found the studio. For Tim, this is a fundamental change that completely revitalized his passion for creating music.
"I never thought when I left Nashville for Omaha that I would be able to put together a band like this," says Wildsmith. "You can call it providence or even just dumb luck, but I'm not taking it for granted. These four guys have given me new life as an artist and a songwriter."
Still, some things haven't changed much at all. The new songs lyrically maintain the vulnerability that audiences have come to love. Even at first listen, Wildsmith can make you feel like you've known him for years. His songs have a level of intimacy that you don't often find in pop music, but you still find yourself singing along. It's that blend of alternative and pop that makes him accessible to such a wide variety of listeners.
But you'll also hear growth on Little Armor as the band sonically steps into a new landscape, drawing comparisons to artists like David Gray and Wilco. They intentionally tried to make a record with a little less gloss and a little more warmth… more heart.
"I've never been a fan of trying to fit myself into the box of a certain genre," says Wildsmith. "But this album definitely has some 'alt-country' moments. I suppose as my tastes in music change, my writing style changes too."
And while his sound evolves, so do his lyrics. With Little Armor, Wildsmith once again explores love and loss, but he does so with more maturity and vulnerability than ever before. Songs like "Vancouver" and "Goodbye" intimately detail the collapse of one relationship, while "Long Way Home" and "Fall Into Me" celebrate the excitement of finding love. And then there are gems like "Graves" and "Steadyhand" that weave spiritual imagery into the mix. Indeed, Wildsmith shows tremendous growth with this collection of songs.
While Little Armor certainly displays the cohesiveness of a band working together, the strength of this band is still found onstage. They're known for intense live shows that showcase their talent and passion. Over the years, Wildsmith has developed a unique and sincere showmanship that can capture an audience. His growth as an artist and entertainer is evident, earning him opening spots for artists like Brandi Carlile, Richard Marx, and Nanci Griffith. He won an Omaha Entertainment Award, was named Best Songwriter in a regional songwriting competition, and has had several songs featured in films in the U.S. and Canada.
"The bottom line is that I want to create and perform music that has some depth and significance. At the same time, I want people to be entertained and be able to get lost in the songs. When I'm balanced on that fine line of art and entertainment, I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be."
You can find out more about Tim Wildsmith & The Lost Cause at www.timwildsmith.com.
".A New Morning is, in a word, superb."
- Maren Hogan, The Heartland Gatekeeper
".a unique and inviting voice his melodies will leave you singing all day."
- Dave Owens, LifeNine Productions
".raw vocals and heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics."
- Avishay Artsy, The Reader
".sincere and strong."
- Tiffany Gann, OmahaNightLife.com
".Wildsmith delivers on all counts, and at the end of his shows we're all smiling."
- Michael Campbell, Mick's Music and Bar
"packing clubs and selling out shows all around town."
- Marq Manner, City Weekly
".a knack for self-defacing humor and honesty."
- Ethan Burmeister, CORE
".the best album I've ever heard."
- Donna Wildsmith, mother
