Taylor Xo – The Last Heartbreak (2022)
The alter ego of singer-songwriter and rapper Taylor Olson, Taylor Xo is confident, bold and diverse in his music. In an interview with Sinusoidal Music, the artist explained that Taylor Xo came about “…when I reimagined and reinvented myself, it was finally giving life to another side of myself…”; as such, we have the “in your face” Taylor Xo making his mark on the US music scene. Performing at iconic venues like House of Blues, Avalon Hollywood, and The Abbey, the US-based musician is an enigmatic performer; however, he is not only reaching people on a touring basis but online receiving coverage from international blogs like Sinusoidal Music, Rising Artists Blog, Paper Magazine, and Instinct Magazine. The latest addition to his repertoire is the album The Last Heartbreak.
Following his single ‘fuck with me’, The Last Heartbreak is a six-track nod to the grunge/alternative rock sounds of the 80s and 90s. His first rock album, The Last Heartbreak shows Taylor Xo’s ability to traverse different genres and styles. Unlike ‘fuck with me’ which uses a hip-hop meets pop sound, the new EP is a flowing tapestry of pop, indie-rock and grunge.
If you take a listen to Taylor Xo’s previous material, you might say the opening single ‘love is for the weak’ adopts the most similar style with its pop tone. Yet, immediately after ‘love is for the weak’, we hear Taylor Xo using dynamic guitars to embrace alt-rock sounds with a tinge of pop-rock. The rich, bold and robust vocals enhance the tone of ‘New York’ incorporating a heavy grittiness in the way of Goo Goo Dolls. Interestingly enough, while a reminiscence of Goo Goo Dolls and All American Rejects can be heard, there is an obscurity that makes this music completely Taylor Xo.
From the more upbeat ‘love is for the weak’ to the soothing alternative rock track ‘Honest’, Taylor Xo highlights his innovativeness as an artist. For me, I find it difficult to choose a favourite track, particularly between ‘Honest’ and ‘YOU’. ‘YOU’ holds a traditional grunge style in the line of Radiohead, while ‘Honest’ is 90s alt-rock gold.
The melodies themselves are exciting and entrancing, but it is the lyrical content that demonstrates Taylor Xo’s depth. Talking about a heartbreak (from the painful denial to the bottled-up aggression, to the final stages of acceptance), Taylor Xo connects with audiences on an intimate level. Sincere, sentimental and passionate, The Last Heartbreak tosses listeners into a sonic whirlpool, sends shivers down your spine and leaves you completely breathless.
For more from Taylor Xo, check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
