Grant Tilly

Yes, the world keeps passing Grant Tilly by. This sentiment is fleshed out in the songs that make up his album of the same name. He explores themes such as urban alienation, drunken one-night stands and leaving the city to buy a little house in the country with the girl he loves. The result of his search for the simple life is a perfectly charming album. Tilly's voice is strong and clear, with hints of Steven Page. His songs stay in a major key, laced with fast strumming and optimistic lyrics. The only jarring aspect of the songs that make up The World Keeps Passing By is Tilly's insistence on eschewing any sort of metaphor as he sings about e-mails and bank accounts in the midst of folk songs about sunshine and building an old house in the country. This minor quibble aside, Tilly's The World Keeps Passing By is a pleasurable listen.