Tony Tornado - The Tony Tornado EP

​Tony Tornado

The Tony Tornado EP
self-released; 2016

3.6 out of 5

By Andrew Westberry
​

Tony Tornado is a one-man-band hailing from Portland, Oregon. Having been involved in music for most of his life, Tornado began honing in on his songwriting skills in the form of birthday songs for his friends. His debut release The Tony Tornado EP is a collection of songs that Tornado created in his own home studio, and the selection of songs embodies Tornado’s penchant for writing both serious and silly music through a variety of styles.

The album begins with “Dinosaurs” a light-hearted track that follows Tornado’s own love of dinosaurs throughout his life. The soundscape is predominantly composed by dueling electric guitars, thumping bass and percussion, and as the catchy theme repeats throughout the song, the energy continues to build, reaching a dynamic apex as Tornado’s vocals reach into the next octave.

A subdued piano riff leads the listener into the bluesy, groovy funk of “I Can’t Believe” a deceptively simple piece that incorporates somewhat surprising electronic synthesizer elements into the otherwise organic and down-to-earth instrumentation. Tornado’s voice really carries the energy of this track with his fervent and emotive singing.

The energy of the album becomes more subtle in “Winter In June” a beautiful, laid-back tune with droning ambient sounds paving the way for reverb-laced vocals and a steady drumbeat to set the pace and rhythm of the song. Juxtaposing this more reflective piece is “Aquaman Ain’t So Bad” an upbeat pop rock anthem praising the superhero in a playful, nostalgic manner.

​“You Might Not Be M’Lady” brings the record to a close with high energy and a chorus of horns, electric guitars, organ chords, throbbing bass guitar and a straightforward drum beat that ties everything else together. This is the most danceable and arguably the best track on the whole album, and Tornado’s vocals show that he is genuinely enjoying himself in the making of this track. As a whole, The Tony Tornado EP is a solid foundation of eclectic and unique music that showcases Tornado’s talent and skill in writing and performing music professionally.

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