Tommy & Ashley - Quarter Mouth

​Tommy & Ashley

Quarter Mouth
self-released; 2017

3.5 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Tommy & Ashley are an indie rock duo from Charlotte, NC comprised of Tommy Trull (guitars/piano/vocals) and Ashley Fishel (drums/vocals). They recently released a five-song EP entitled Quarter Mouth. The recording is lo-fi consisting of a simple setup of guitar, bass, drums and vocals. 

​They open with “Under The Gun” which is one of the highlights. The song is simple but pretty catchy. One thing that popped out to me was that the guitar seems a bit low in the mix. The band occasionally gets off time but gives it a very live feel. They split up vocals duties. Ashley handles the first half of the song while Tommy takes on the second. 

Up next is “Trouble Is” which is a little more melancholy and emotionally resonant. The song is made up of a couple of strummed chords and a basic beat with the vocals taking the center stage. “Play House” is a fun, upbeat song and arguably the catchiest on the EP while “This is The Way” has a slightly bluesy/country feel to it with one of the best vocal performances on the EP. They close with “Maybe We Can Hear The Train” which is a little more contemplative and nostalgic. It definitely felt like a closer. 

Overall, Tommy & Ashley have some talent but there's definitely some room for improvement. I’d like to hear the performances get a little tighter. Staying in the pocket a bit more along with better production is something they should strive for next time around. I also thought the two vocalists were talented but I thought more vocal harmonies may have been in order. 

Quarter Mouth doesn’t need a whole lot of explanation. The songs are back porch sing-alongs that sound great on a Sunday afternoon.

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