Your review today is being handled by the amazing Stevie Ritson (lol). I actually don’t feel amazing today, as I am suffering from a heavy cold with a bad throat. I am drinking Lemsip and smell of a mixture of Vicks and baby puke! However, see how I battle on! Maybe this album can lift me out of this low start to the day (it was either an album review or watching some Scooby Doo!).
Let’s start with the press release:
Taylor Robert has toured the country with various bands as well as as a solo Artist, played at notable venues in the Twin Cities, and released a multitude of albums and EPs, working with MN Legends like Michael Bland (Prince, Soul Asylum) and Ryan Liestman (Jonas Bros) in production and songwriting. Later on in his career, he decided to take matters into his own hands and has since been writing and recording music on his own terms.
His latest release, “Brighter Day,” was written after a trying time in his life. After experiencing immense love in a 13-year relationship/marriage and a heartbreaking divorce, he wrote these 10 songs trying to process a reset and start everything over. He knows no other way to write other than to look deep inside himself and process emotions through songwriting. The album displays a range of emotions and styles that truly encapsulates his self-proclaimed ‘Roll N Soul’ sound. For anyone who has known the up times and the down times, this music will truly resonate.
The Album was recorded in his studio in Maple Grove, MN—Roll N Soul Studio – with local Minneapolis session musicians contributing: Dario Perkins (vocals on “Long Time Comin’), Dan Neale (guitar), Joe Savage (dobro/harmonica), Kevin Gastonguay (Hammond B3), Brian Ziemniak (Hammond B3), and Jay Corkran (drums) lent their talents to fill out the “Roll N Soul” sound. Lead vocals, background vocals, wurlitzer, piano, acoustic/electric guitar and bass by Taylor Robert. Mixed & Mastered by Luke Harper.
The album is on general release on all platforms April 18, 2025.
Now the review:
Brighter Day (3:30) is a solid little start, a melancholic theme about life crumbling around you and things not going as you want, but the instrumentalization is uplifting and the harmony on the chorus almost nods toward gospel. It does bring me a brighter day.
Around Here (4:20). I think someone was playing maracas along to this one. It has a bit more blues in the sound and lyric, but as Shirley King (BB’s daughter) says, as we get older, more and more songs sing the blues to us. I would say this was a solid album number; it floated on past me while I was feeding the baby.
Life to Live (3:18). This one opens with a good, funky feel that is helped by the Hammond organ. Again, I liked the harmony singing in the chorus and this has a solid drumbeat too, giving a nice heartbeat.
Come Around Again (3:10) returns to that bluesman theme, with some nice harmonies. Taylor notes he has been through some shit, but I’d say he has channeled it nicely into this album. Music therapy. It has a nice late-night blues club feel with that drum sound.
Good Love (5:20) is the longest track on the album. It has a solid beat and I’m sure this one would go well live. It is a storyteller of a track (and album) and it has some positivity there with a heart made for loving, but the song was a little ponderous for me.
Only Love (2:54) returns to that Gospel style vocals and feel (a positive). It is one you would sway along to and I liked it.
What You’re Lookin’ For (3:32) has a piano introduction, dreamy in its reverie. It takes me back to our friend Shirley King again, who told us, “you don’t have to be black to sing the blues; you just have to have had life hit you in the face.” Do we feel that those who leave us are happy elsewhere with someone else? I’m not so sure!
Long Time Comin’ (3:36). I liked the cymbal rolls and the background vocalization. This was a mature track drawing on emotion and creating what I would call a group song, harmony.
Love Light (4:01) is a stripped-back acoustic, folk style. It is about the search for peace when your heart is broken.
Jeep Truck (5:18) ends the album in style. I liked its hillbilly style, a bit of uplifting country that is out of step with a lot of what came before. But I enjoyed it and it was a good bit of fun to end on.
Standout tracks: “Brighter Day” and “Only Love.”
In summary: This album blends blues, gospel, and folk influences to explore themes of heartbreak, healing, and hope. Tracks like “Brighter Day” and “Only Love” shine with uplifting harmonies and emotional resonance. While some songs float by more gently, others dig deeper into personal struggles and soulful storytelling. It’s a mature, heartfelt collection with a few surprises—like the fun, hillbilly closer “Jeep Truck.”
And we hope you liked the review, dear reader! If you did, please check out the other pages of the magazine; we have many great features, merchandise pages, shops, editorials and even a poetry page. Content is free here, but we work hard for you, and to support the magazine, please show your appreciation on the support button below and buy me a coffee!
You can stream music from Taylor Robert here
By Stevie Ritson
