Album Review: Tyller Gummersall 'Long Ride Home'

​Hailing from Colorado, singer-songwriter Tyller Gummersall recently released his fourth album, Long Ride Home. The album, which was recorded at The Zone Studio and engineered by Pat Manske, was produced by the legendary Lloyd Maines. In addition to Maines and Manske (both also play on the record), Long Ride Home features Gary Cook [flatpicking guitar], Dennis Ludiker [fiddle], and Riley Osbourne [keys] whose talented musicianship brings the songs to life.

The eleven track collection’s songs were solely penned by Gummersall and throughout the album, one can clearly flesh out a picture of who he is: a proud of his roots country gentleman, and an old musical soul who hasn’t forgotten the beloved traditional sounds of the genre.

The album kicks off with the hummable melody of “This House” which focuses on what’s left “with you gone.” From there, Gummersall’s roots show on the shuffling “Rocky Mountain Man” where he sings “Well I’m not from the west coast and I ain’t from the southern plains/They don’t like my hat out in Nashville/I guess the cowboy really did ride away” and the stomping, fiddle driven “Country Boy.” He presents life lessons learned in the poignant and touching “Better Than You Found It” and is reflective and contemplative in the title track.

Gummersall also addresses the many sides of love on a quartet of songs, which feature the gorgeous harmonies of Kate Willyard blending with his own warm vocals. There’s getting to know someone on the gentle, “Sing You A Song,” yearning on “Kiss Me,” trying to forget old lovers on “Ghosts” (“Can you love me without gettin’ your heart broken?/If you can then I’ll forever owe you mine”), and questioning whether one is worthy of another on “Good Enough.”

Over the past year, and particularly the past six months, we have seen that country listeners are craving a little less of what’s been predominant and a lot more of what’s traditional. Gummersall’s album should satisfy that craving nicely, finding a home in your music collection, on your playlist and hopefully even on the radio.

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