Chunksaah Records – Release Date: 4/10/12

On 40 Miler, his fifth solo album and first for Chunksaah, Tim Barry sounds nothing if not confident. The music, which features a stronger country influence than in the past, complements the lyrics in a way that simply enhances the overall storytelling. His words often speak of economic hardships or passing trends in the music scene, but Barry injects enough humor into such topics that it keeps things from getting too serious. He’s also not afraid to look inwards and poke fun at himself, thereby adding to the authenticity of his already genuine songwriting. An example of this would be the song “Bankers Dilemma”, as it examines the brighter side of being unemployed. Barry talks about getting laid off, abandoning the mortgage and celebrating impending foreclosure with a “lingering sense of relief and a crap-ton of empty bottles.” In “Fine Foods Market”, he describes a line for lottery tickets as three blocks long and also depicts a segment of the crowd as “hipsters with ironic mustaches, who most definitely once were punk and now wear flannel.” He then proceeds to scrutinize his own musical upbringings and influences, as well as discuss his indifference to such fads. The title track reaffirms Barry’s devotion to his craft and emphasizes the importance of integrity. He says, “I’d rather stay broke and play fake-ass shows, move with heart, sing from your soul. If you can’t play then dance instead. Music should sound like escape not rent.” On the whole, 40 Miler is a positive record that finds Barry growing and benefitting from his life experiences. It represents some of his best solo material yet and is heads above the vast majority of his musical peers. Take a listen to the song “40 Miler” below and see why.

[audio:http://www.jadedinchicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/40-Miler.mp3|titles=40 Miler]