Talay - Piece by Piece

Talay  

​Piece by Piece
self-released; 2015

3.5 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Megan Talay has been getting a lot accomplished in the music world after she graduated from Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program. She supported bands like Emmy Wildwood, Heather LaRose and indie rock band New Tarot. After that she got to work on her EP Piece by Piece. On top of that she has played with prolific bands at notable venues. 

The five songs on Piece by Piece have elements of pop/rock/folk and even a bit of country. There is no doubt the songs were professionally recorded and well produced. On top of that the songwriting is top notch. At the center of these songs are Talay’s vocals which carry the music. She is a dynamic singer with an impressive range and plenty of emotion in her voice.

The EP opens with “Light the Way” which was the most single worthy, radio ready song of the five. I have to admit I preferred some of the other tracks but all thing considered it would probably appeal to the largest demographic with its explosive, catchy chorus and hummable melodies. “Underside” starts off smooth and mellow. It contains warm, distant guitar and I enjoyed the brushwork on the snare. The song ends up exploding into an intense, dramatic crescendo where Talay belts out her lyrics.

My personal favorite track was “Forever In My Hand.” Her lyrics revolve around existential questions. She questions her capacity to understand eternity, death and her choices or lack thereof. The upbeat, feel good vibe was a perfect juxtaposition against the lyrics. Great song.

“Piece by Piece” is a slow melancholy yet powerful ballad. The song like some of the other tracks starts off mellow and builds to a grandiose end. “Just Fine” was another highlight, which revolved around acoustic guitar, hand claps and her vocals. I loved how subdued it was especially compared to some of the over top moments on the other songs.

Overall, this is a strong debut with a nice variety of songs. Recommended.

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