Michael Tolcher
See You Soon
A&M/Octone
**
by Al Kaufman
Although he was born in Virginia, Michael Tolcher is a local boy. He grew up in Lovejoy, went to Georgia Tech, and even performed at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary (where his father served as chaplain). He's a nice guy with a guitar who you really want to like, but when it comes down to it he's just another guy with a guitar.
Tolcher has had some success in the past, when "Sooner or Later," off his debut CD, I Am, was used as the theme song on ABC's short-lived Life As We Know It. See You Soon, a three-song EP, is supposed to serve as a teaser for his forthcoming album to be released next year. But Tolcher's sensitive new-age guy lyrics are too simplistic to tease. Lead track, "Airplane," could easily be confused with a children's song, as Tolcher expresses the kid-like wonder of flying. "I'm on an airplane./I'm flying over/Over the oceans/I used to sail on./I'm on an airplane."
"Give Me Your Hand" is not much better. You can almost see his puppy-dog eyes as he pleads, "Give me your hand/I need more than two."
The saving grace is "Speed Feels Better." Another song full of childlike wonder and reminiscing, the lyrics fit that open road sound he's going for. Tolcher has a nice, rich voice and can play a rhythm guitar, but so can a few million other people. Nothing on See You Soon demonstrates that he's anything more than that.
Michael Tolcher plays Vinyl, with Graham Colton and Tim Brantley, on Thursday, December 4. 7 pm. $12/$15 door.
