Tyler Burkum

A lot of people wish they could tour with a Grammy-winning rock band for 10 years. Tyler Burkum did just that as a guitarist and vocalist for Audio Adrenaline. But from the music he wrote while on the road, it’s clear that he began wishing for home. Burkum’s debut solo project, Darling, Maybe Someday, expresses deep longings for family, peace, and rest. His lyrics are written as if torn from a private journal – introspective, sincere, and sometimes heart-wrenching. They may not all be autobiographical, but they are all personal. The album will especially connect with those who have had to spend much time away from the ones they love.

Even compared to the softer music of his former band, Burkum’s solo sound is surprisingly stripped-down and laid-back. Last year, he released a demo CD of bare acoustic tracks, recorded with just a laptop and a microphone. On Darling, Maybe Someday, he adds depth and texture to his songs while keeping their simplicity, combining acoustic, electronic, and folk rock elements. There are even some electric guitar licks this time around. Burkum’s voice is at its best on the more dynamic songs; his vocals don’t quite convey the full emotion of the softer tunes.

And there is plenty of emotion to be had on Darling, Maybe Someday. Homesickness is the main theme of much of the album, but it’s not the only one. From the lighthearted romance of “Gales of November” to the dark despair of “Too Far Gone,” Burkum doesn’t shy away from expressing a wide range of feelings. He has said that he wrote many songs while singing his two little boys to sleep, and “I Carry You With Me” sounds like it may have been one of them. Burkum tenderly sings goodbye to his sleeping children, and then to his wife, before setting out on the road. He expresses a hope that has become the album’s title – “Darling, maybe someday / Forever I will stay.”

At first, “Hurricane” seems to be a romantic love song, but it turns out to be about the birth of a son. “Everything You Said” is a bit of a switch both lyrically and musically, as a faster beat accompanies lyrics about discovering someone’s deception. The album closes with a song called “End Of The Road” that features just Burkum with his guitar. It speaks of carefree contentment on a peaceful summer day – “There’s so much time / And nowhere to be / I’ve got one hand on the wheel / And the other on your knee.” Finally, it seems that Burkum’s wish has been granted.

Rock fans from Burkum’s days with Audio Adrenaline may find the album’s pacing a bit slow. A couple more upbeat songs would have given some needed energy and variety to the CD. But Burkum did not write his songs to fit into an album or land a radio single. Rather, he has said that Darling, Maybe Someday was recorded to harness the lyrics and melodies already flowing out of him. The result is a heartfelt studio debut that invites the listener not to dance, but to dream.

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