Born and raised in Bangalore, India, singer-songwriter, Thomas Itty is now a New Yorker through-and-through, living in the Big Apple for the past twenty-five years.
Armed with his own home studio, and a deep love for the iconic works of colleagues such as: Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Van Morrison, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, Mark Knopfler, Ian Anderson, Bruce Springsteen, and so many others—this prolific songwriter has written over 100 songs dating back to his teenage years.
“I’m already about 5 songs into my next album.”
Having previously released projects such as 2000’s The Dark Edge Of The Light, and 2013’s From There To Here, Itty has just released an absolute monster of an album, the 35-track, Retrospective.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
Idioms & Rhymes feels a bit like the 80’s pop-rock of Hall & Oates.
Itty’s love of the 70’s singer-songwriters shines bright in, Living Free, a track which can’t help but bring to mind the likes of Cat Stevens…
“Living free until I die
Sometimes I’m low sometimes I get high
In times of trouble I don’t hide
These are the days of my life…”
From drinking tea, to walking the dog, Same World But New Reality, ignores modern-day chaos and finds a way to celebrate the wonderful, beautiful, and—most importantly—the simple things in life.
A precious rock-ballad, What Your Love Has Done For Me, is a simple and elegant love song for partner and child. We also get an equally endearing electric solo at 2:16…
“The sun shines its light and it burns so bright
It brings life to the earth and sea
It causes things to grow it makes the waters flow
And keeps the world in harmony
It’s what your love has done for me
It’s what your love has done for me
You have saved me and set me free
That’s what your love has done for me…”
Not mincing any words is, 4 Horses, a classic-rock-style anthem for modern times. (Think: Buffalo Springfield’s, For What Its Worth.)…
“It don’t matter
What you believe
One true religion
Or the Lord Of The Rings
Saint or sinner
We all must die
You can say there’s heaven
Or just kiss your ass goodbye…”
Neil Young comes to mind once again in, Exit To Danger, an electric-rock-style warning to all who come and go carelessly. Exit to danger, be advised.
OUR FAVORITE TRACK…
Letters From The Front tells the heartwarming story of a young man at war who’s written a letter to his mother. The song feels supremely sincere, and the electric guitar tone is never better anywhere else on the record. It’s far and away our favorite song on the album…
“Momma, I’m afraid to die
Momma, I’m afraid to die
My hands are shaking
But I’m too ashamed to cry
Momma, I’m afraid to die…”
As I offers the album’s philosophical thumbprint as it ponders all things from all perspectives…
“I’d rather be a bird than a bee…”
The blues-lounge-style, Pages From My Book Of Memories, is our second favorite track. Layers of blues-drenched licks underpin memories of years past. The melody and emotion are substantially nostalgic…
“I’m working for a living, and I’m 21
Have a girl, and back then, I thought she was the one
Ride my motorcycle in the rain, just for fun (that’s how I rolled those days)
Look at an eclipse, with my eyes to the sun (baby, I was fearless)…”
IN CONCLUSION…
A raw indie-sound. An unabashedly authentic melding of acoustic and electric folk-rock. Real-life songs from a well-traveled real-life artist. Thomas Itty’s latest 35-track monster album, Retrospective, covers love, adventure, philosophy, loss, social justice, and redemption in a witty and thoughtful fashion. The album has an honest and simple, almost “live” sound which seems to match this man’s affinity for making a yesterday-style of hand-crafted tunes.
What’s more, his vocal timbre has the rasp we all seem to love in this genre, which by no mistake blends seamlessly with his 70’s-style songwriting—as well as the use of the iconic Fender Stratocaster and other electric axes by he and his studio musicians. Check out the entire 35-track, Retrospective, below…
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
An amalgamation of Cat Stevens meets Neil Young…
BELOW: Listen to Thomas Itty’s, Retrospective, and connect with his website and social media platforms. Please support Thomas Itty by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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