Thomas Csorba
Highway Kid, 2020
9/10
The Texas singer-songwriter Thomas Csorba has done much in his relatively short existence that involves playing shows while in high school and recording albums in college. Here he takes help from The Texas Gentlemen across a handful of western and dust bowl blues influenced tunes, as the youngster illustrates much depth and skill.
“I Want” starts the listen soft and soulful, where expressive vocals align with bare beauty that includes an organ, and “Over The Garden Wall” follows with a rich, folk-influenced spirit of cautious storytelling that’s piano friendly and a bit more rugged yet with plenty of melody.
Deeper into the listen, the stirring pedal steel of “Heartache After Heartache” helps illuminate the Americana spirit, while “Expectation Runs” continues this careful song craft with a slow burning affair of delicate guitar and brushed percussion. “Another Man In Me”, the album standout, then soars with breezy song craft that resonates with a timelessness that’s so well done, it could make anyone a Csorba fan.
Near the end, the retro quality of “What’s Left Of Mine” channels the spirit of Dylan or Guthrie in Csorba’s creative vision, and “Plastic Jesus (Reborn)” exits the listen sparse but highly memorable with intricate guitar picking alongside some playful twang on the exceptional cover.
Even though he’s just 23, Csorba plays like an old soul here, with both intimacy and playfulness that’s constructed carefully and executed flawlessly. Though most of us have never heard of Csorba, one listen of this record and you certainly won’t forget who he is.
Travels well with: Elise Davis- Cactus; Carolina Story- Dandelion