Musical Connections Lead to Curtis Peoples

Douglas Boultinghouse
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Courtesy of Curtis Peoples' MySpace

Curtis Peoples - Independent pop-rock singer-songwriter Curtis Peoples released his self-titled debut album in 2008. He currently tours the country with Tony Lucca and Josh Hoge in support of the release.

   Artists tend to talk about fellow artists to their fans. And usually, the fans listen.

   Country-rock trio Lady Antebellum mentioned independent rock-pop artist Curtis Peoples on their MySpace page. When you dig further, Peoples connects with more artists than just Lady Antebellum.

   Peoples tours frequently with Tyler Hilton, Josh Kelley, Hanson, Tony Lucca, Josh Hoge and Ernie Halter. He also shares musicians with Lady Antebellum and Hilton.

  However, the musical connections do not make Peoples incredible; they only served as a road map to discover him by.

   Peoples released his self-titled debut in late 2008. Even though, he still remains fairly unknown, his gift of music makes him incredibly talented.

   His album kicks off with “Back Where I Started,” a song featuring solid guitar solos, catchy hooks, brilliantly-crafted lyrics and impressive pipes.

   “Own up, you know it's your fault / Excuses won't save you at all / Your cheating has broke us apart / 

Fooled around on me this time / … Now I'm back where I started / This lonely dance of the broken-hearted / You don't know a thing about falling in love,” he sings.

   He follows with a song more contemporary-rock sounding called “Holding Me Down.”

   “I'm getting out tonight / I'm gonna lay it all out / Oh, I feel like leaving 'cause you're holding me down / Wrapped up in chains, yeah, you're holding me down / Gotta break away if I'm gonna survive / To hell with you, baby, my worst love of all time,” Peoples sings to a fast-paced beat.

   Other songs on the album include “Exit Scene,” “One More Time,” “Counting on Disaster,” “Heart Will Fall,” “All I Want” and “Tell Me I’m Wrong.” But two songs, “Wake Up” and “Got What We Wanted,” stand alone in a category deemed “Musical Masterpieces.”

   “Wake Up,” blends pitch-perfect harmonies over the building sounds of steel guitars and drums.

   “It’s time for you to stand up / No time for you to run / Nothing will hurt as bad as losing the right one / Wa-a-a-a-ke up / Wake up / This is a chance for love,” he sings.

   “Got What We Wanted,” slows things down. Peoples crafted a mellow ballad that grows into a mid-tempo rock song.

   “We got what we wanted / We got what we wanted this time / Oh we had it and lost it / The sweetness is so hard to find / … No one ever said before / What I just keep taking more / It’ll be all right / It is anger that has let you down / Anger that has broke apart your last good love / Sleep tonight,” he sings.

   The entire album meshes together in equal parts of rock and pop to create a piece of music to be enjoyed and appreciated.

   Peoples can be found on tour with Hoge and Lucca throughout May.

   For more information, check him out on MySpace or at his official Web site.

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©The Voice 2008