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Written by Nicole Madden Monday, 29 March 2010 16:10

The songs work together beautifully to create a record that screams of honesty, heartbreak and joy.

Ever listen to an album that just seems honest? Like, maybe not a ton of thought went into it but a hell of a lot of heart did? That’s the feeling you’ll get when you listen to Tim Barry’s third full length release, 28th & Stonewall. 

The songs themselves don’t have much of connection as far as theme or even style but they all work together beautifully to create a record that screams of honesty, heartbreak and joy. As the former lead singer of influential punk band, Avail, Barry is surprisingly impressive as a folk singer/songwriter.

Some of the stand out tracks are “Prosser’s Gabriel,” a folky song about a failed slave uprising led by Gabriel Prosser and “Bus Driver,” an upbeat sing-along that pokes fun at Tim’s tour crew. Personal favorites include “Short G’Bye,” “Walk 500 Miles,” and “(Memento Mori)” for the simple fact that Tim’s passion and intensity burst through on even the slower, more reflective songs.

Do yourself a favor and pick up 28th & Stonewall. (And I mean, go to the store and physically purchase a copy, put it in your car and drive to the park. Barry himself lives in a shed without running water and doesn’t own a computer. He’d appreciate the effort on our part to live a little less attached to digital downloads and enjoy the world around us.) Trust me -- it’ll be worth it. A | Nicole Madden