Nova Scotia talent Tyler Messick (also known as Museum Pieces) has released a brand new 13-track record dubbed Plain Sight. The Pennsylvania-born rocker certainly showcases the talent that his impressive credentials imply; Messick assisted with the development of Grammy Winning album Suburbs by Canadian indie rock darlings Arcade Fire when band founder Win Butler became good friends with the young musician after talking with him on a basketball court in Montreal.
Messick’s been compared to Tom Petty in the past, and the album’s beginning certainly does its part in helping us bridge that connection. It kicks off with the highway hymn of “Hitchhiking With Your Photograph,” a groove-worthy rock track about being stranded on a Maritime highway. The stylistically simple melodies and welcoming vocals are sure to encourage a trip down memory lane for fans of Tom Petty. Even those unfamiliar with the late rock and roll icon will enjoy plugging in this tune while on the road, hopefully in a different scenario than the one the single describes.
This is followed up by “Salesman,” which seems to shift the paramount instrument from guitar to piano. As the keys clang with copious amounts of harmonious energy, we again hear no shortage of Petty-esque vibes.
“Death Is Not A Destination” is a beautifully-composed tribute to the beauty of life. As the slow-tempo, high-energy song carries on, Messick reminisces about all the times he rejected structure and the idea of an enclosure, and about running wild and free with his guitar.
A little further down, we’re greeted with “What Does It Mean To Meet In Dreams.” Here, Messick seems to play around with the lovesick trope by adding some auditory surreality to it. Instances where the percussion seems to stutter and the inclusion of what sounds like a synthesizer adds a dream-like quality that only something as complex as a human mind could scheme up.
Other standouts include “Keys To The Castle,” a fast-paced tune that champions a hopeful future; “Reassurance Of The Clan,” the penultimate track that gives the piano a second run in the spotlight; and “Color Of Jade,” a pristinely polished piece whose title proves that our Canadian spelling hasn’t won Messick over just yet.
“Messenger” would have to be the track that captures Messick’s talent the best. Even barring comparisons to Tom Petty, “Messenger” has the rocker dance his fingers expertly across his guitar, supported by nothing more than vocals and the occasional tambourine slap. Indeed, the 9th track of the album is certainly the one that best manifests Messick’s individual merit.
“I decided I needed to be part of a movement that deconstructed popular norms,” Messick said. “This record is the tip of the iceberg of what I want to say–but I decided to make a palatable tip so I could get a wider audience to pay attention. I want to go places and show what I can do. I have a lot to offer the scene and I never stopped practicing and learning.”
Mixed by Canadian music icon Joel Plaskett, Plain Sight was destined to catch the attention of listeners, and with Tom Petty sound-a-like Tyler Messick as its creative engine, this is one album you should toss on to your must-listen list right away.
You can catch Tyler on tour this summer at shows in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Tour Dates:
06.13.18 Dalhousie University Music Dept, Halifax
06.16.18 Trailside Inn, Mount Stewart, PEI
06.22.18 Evergreen Theater, Margaretsville, NS
07.07.18 Port Grocer, Liverpool, NS
07.13.18 Studio Art Gallery, New Glasgow, NS
07.14.18 Townhouse Pub, Antigonish, NS
08.25.18 Trailside Inn, Mount Stewart, PEI