Role Model Finds Something Real in Chuck Timely & The Hourglass
Photo via Instagram
Last month I reviewed Role Model’s leading single “Joy” which if you haven’t already read you can read here. Now, with his full album Chuck Timely & The Hourglass out he has a drive for something real, joy, and love. The rollout and promo for this album has been one of my favorites to witness because it is super fan centered this time around. He has stirred up interest for the drop with the elusive chucktimely instagram and several listening sessions, merch drops and he even revealed the track list using a lottery style scratch off poster at a pop up for fans in Los Angeles and New York. He also teased (leaked) basically the entire album last week at Lollapalooza in Chicago. One of the things that went viral immediately was the fact that Dakota Johnson who he has been romantically linked with, is featured on the bridge of “Love I You”. This was the first time that fans have seen anything about the couple aside from a few paparazzi photos. Their back and forth banter is super intimate and pulls the listener in with its sensuality.
The intro interlude “Chuck’s Mantra” is this absolutely gorgeous acapella that is built through a choir and some soft strings. It is a subtle reminder to allow yourself the grace of finding joy even in the hardest of times. We are all deserving of that love. He states I am deserving of something real something true someday soon. It sets this really calming vibe for the album then immediately is followed by the super fun and twangy sound of “High Hopes 3000”. Then “Song Is All You Get” highlights the different types of relationships. It depends on the length and the effort of the people involved. It could end in marriage or just be as he mentions, a song.
“Love I You” is one of the sexiest songs I have heard from Tucker in a while. As mentioned above, Dakota Johnson is featured in a portion of the song which already adds a touch of sensuality but add in the guitar style and Role Model’s doting voice urging us forward you have the hottest song on the album. “Chasing Midnight” is super sweet and has that sit around the fire with a guitar sort of jam style to it that I really like. “Good Thing” is just beautiful. He has managed to make me completely forget his rap roots altogether because of how slow and gentle songs like this fit his voice. He has pushed himself to grow vocally since his last album Kansas Anymore. One thing that I am enjoying while listening to this album too is his instrumentation. He is exploring using more strings, a flute in some places, and softer and simpler drum patterns.
Photo via Instagram
After “Joy”, “Service Receipt” has what Tucker himself has deemed the ‘most pathetic’ lines. He talks about feeling desperate to feel anything that isn’t yearning a past relationship. “Honeydew” feels like a diary entry or a letter that we are not supposed to read. “Stain” has some of my favorite instrumentation on the whole album. My boyfriend pointed out a little bit of a Masayoshi Takanaka feel. “The Wedding” was an interesting title to see on the tracklist, but I immediately assumed it was about attending a friend’s wedding and handling the complicated feelings of witnessing that kind of commitment. “Harmony” is the ideal conclusion to the album. It has everything, the compelling instrumentation, Tucker exploring his joy, and that almost country sound that ties it altogether. A sense of peace washes over as the album concludes and I am left hoping for the optimism Role Model has found within this album.