Troy Petty – Departure

Troy Petty – Departure – EP Review

Troy Petty…sir…WHERE have you been hiding?

Let me just say…I am absolutely giving you the first-impressions I’m getting from Troy’s new EP Departure here…and if it stays ANYTHING like the opening track “All Ghosts” we are completely listening to a future superstar…and that future might not be far away at all with a massive sound like this. When it said he was listed as an alternative-music artist…I was expecting something entirely more generic and a thousand-levels less deep. Troy Petty and his Departure EP…I mean…I almost have no words. I absolutely love this.

“All Ghosts” was about as perfect of an opening as you could hope for. To follow it up with such an incredible song as you’ll find in “Unfinished” is damn near a musical CRIME – this guy is better than GOOD. Whereas “All Ghosts” starts off with a more-polished Cold War Kids or Frightened Rabbit frantic-innocence to the sound, “Unfinished” brings around a darker-edge resembling artists like Placebo or Damien Rice.

Are you LISTENING to this?  Probably NOT…it’s not out yet – sorry!  Soon I swear!

Honestly – this is a striking three-for-three so far; this is music with impact. “Motor Mind” finally sees Troy Petty at the full-rip of alternative and with backing vocal-whispers put together a complex song that ranges in texture and atmosphere all the way through. The breakdown nearly two-minutes in is just perfection with Petty left alone in the spotlight for a tender moment before taking the song to incredible heights through the final moments. Nearly like our own home-grown Matthew Good in terms of sound for the music (later stuff, not MGB…) but with a Gordon Downie twist to the vocals – there’s no denying what a powerful single this could be, or any of these three so far.

I swear it just keeps getting better. “Set Me Free” is a blues-alternative track that is something Alice In Chains would have been proud to have written. The performances from Petty on Departure have all been incredible in both music and vocals, but this…THIS…this is Troy-unchained here on “Set Me Free.” Getting all-kinds of crazy with the vocalizations and improv-parts, the dark-melodies that swirl throughout this song just continue to build and gain stream with each passing second becoming a true-epic on this album that literally sounds like a menacing but REAL adventure. It’s the kind of sound that literally separates everything you’re doing from what you’re listening to…you fade right into, and become lost in it.

Now I have some terrible news and a few announcements to make. It’s about the final results of this EP and this last title-track…

For those of you that placed your bets in Vegas for Troy to come out with a horrible final song on the extreme longshot bet…I sincerely apologize, the house has taken your money. I have MORE bad news in this final announcement…if you placed your bet that Troy would come out with a glorious ending to his EP, Departure…well…you WON; but not much – I’m afraid the odds were clearly 1:1 at that point…

Enough of my attempts at humour – this is truly amazing music and the final track “Departure” sums up an inhuman effort made upon this album bestowed with five unbelievable songs. This is a man with a clear gift and I will always remember the name Troy Petty after this day. This final cut is such a refreshing anthem and call to spiritual arms…inspiring us all to find our true-calling & place in the world.

Beyond impressive – I highly recommend listening to Troy Petty. Like, NOW.

Suppose I make it even easier for you to find him…here’s a link to his official page: http://www.troypettymusic.com/  

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