Review of Journey Home by Sarah Towle    EXCLAIM!

There’s something distinctly Ontarian about Kyra and Tully’s fourth release, Journey Home. Between Kyra’s stunning, Sarah Harmer-esque vocals, the winter weather-inspired lyrics and the laid-back banjo arrangements (and perhaps their history of being featured on CTV’s Degrassi Junior High), this Kingston-based husband-wife duo is Central Canadiana to the core.

Journey Home kicks off with the gentle — but drum-driven — “Write About It,” a song made to be cranked on a car radio while driving through cottage country. Similarly, the title track is full of those aforementioned Sarah Harmer octave leaps and gentle backing harmonies, which hold the album’s catchiest chorus (“Cold Winds through Ontario/Shake the Windows”). There’s also something in there with that small-town, dingy watering-hole sound: the lo-fi blues tune “Why Don’t You Call.”

While Journey Home lends itself to a handful of deliciously sweet moments, the album tends to suffer from a minor identity crisis, bouncing back between a singer-songwriter sound on the Kyra-dominated tracks and a more blues-rock sound on those featuring Tully (“Thunder and Lightning” and “Why Don’t You Call” are the stand-outs). But overall, the EP lends itself to the roots of its composers — straight from the heart of the Heartland province. (Independent)

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http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/kyra_tully-journey_home

 

Review Journey Home Greyowl Point reviewed by Elysse Cloma

I have a soft spot for family bands. Maybe it’s because I was raised with the sounds of The Carpenters and Captain & Tenille, or maybe it’s a function of being in a band with my older sister. I think that pop artists who make music with their loved ones almost always have a special appeal. For example, Sonny & Cher’s music gets its strength from their talent as vocalists, but the dynamic of their relationship as husband and wife gives songs like “I Got You Babe” their appeal. “I Got You Babe” celebrates Sonny & Cher’s relationship as a married couple, making the song sugary sweet and instantly likeable.

Husband and wife duo Kyra and Tully of Kingston, Ontario make music with the same “sugary sweet” appeal as many before them. Like the hippie countercultural music of the 1960s, Kyra and Tully’s five-song EP Journey Home is meant to inspire hope in their listeners. Brought to life by dozens of accompanying musicians, the songs on Journey Home are uplifting and filled with love. Kyra and Tully’s music expresses love in all forms, whether it’s romantic love, love for the beauty of nature, or a love of life.

The EP’s title track “Journey Home” is a proper Canadian folk tune. Using Lake Ontario as the setting for a melancholic song about love, it’s reminiscent of Joni Mitchell’s music— down tempo and melodic, glazed with a tint of sorrow and a feeling of loss. On “Journey Home”, Kyra’s vocal performance is largely featured, along with string accompaniment. Her careful and flawless transition between chest and head voice, and gentle pronunciation of each word make the song’s nature-inspired lyrics all the more poetic.

While “Journey Home” is a slow and pensive folk tune, “Why Don’t You Call” and “Thunder and Lightning” are more upbeat and danceable tracks. The brass section on “Thunder and Lightning”, and the rock organ on “Why Don’t you Call” give each song their retro character.

With slide guitar and organ filling the background with a folk and country feel, opening track “Write About It” is a celebration of romantic love. Closing track “Love In All These Things” is a way of finding beauty and love in everything, such as a “planted stone”. Orchestrated by stringed instruments, and incredibly hooky, “Love In All These Things” seems to encompass the spirit of Kyra and Tully. Music that captures the purity of love is really well communicated by family bands, and Journey Home is a batch of inspiring songs that are made with love.

Top Tracks: “Journey Home”; “Love In All These Things”

Rating: Proud Hoot (Really Good)

 

Journey Home is officially released!  Our local release party at Chalmers United Church was amazing! Such a fun time, lots of love vibes and the music was stellar! Turns out our son Kezyan (featured on drums for opening number)  was the star of the night! Our band rocked ( Andy Love (drums); Kevin Bowers (guitar); Paul Clifford (bass); Roger James (banjo) and featuring Gord Tough (guitar); Danielle Lennon (violin); Daphne Kennedy (cello); Spencer Evans (Korg organ); Val Hamilton (saxophone); Lia Dawson (vocals); Josh Lyon (organ); Matthew Rogalsky (tambourine and synth)  gorgeous performance by special guests The Diaries and despite great challenges Matthew Barber made it to headline the show and grace the stage with his beautiful and inspiring music. We raised awareness and gave a brief presentation about the work of the Kingston Mosaic Group in our community and made money to pay for their incorporation fees and more!

Ben McLean was an amazing host and things were flowing smooth like silk with the help of Tim Sheffield our excellent stage manager, Tracey Guptill our very on the ball front of house manager and her amazing crew Megan, Laura, Brooke and Stana our most wonderful joyoliogist and Rob and Kingston Soundworks making the night full of so many details seem effortless! We were well taken care of and sustained by the delicious food catered to the musicians by Epicurious Catering. The audience (our incredible community) was warm, supportive and appreciative, we all feel very blessed for such a wonderful and magical memory, thank you to everyone who contributed to the beauty of this event!

***Thank you to Josh and Matt from Queens University Film Department for filming this event and to David Chang Photography. *****

 

During our sound check members from our band got to listen to themselves on CBC Radio One when the title track ‘Journey Home’ was played on DNTO with Sook-Yin Lee! What a thrill and so cool and we’re still buzzing from all the hype! During the week of the release we reached #1 on Queen’s Campus Radio Station CFRC, were played on CBC Radio One Ontario Morning and were featured on CKWS TV news and The Kingston Whig Standard!   The week before our new EP received a sweet review in Exclaim!   (links below)

Journey Home will be available on itunes soon (we submitted late and it takes a while) in the meantime please order the Ep CD directly from our website.. we also have download cards we can mail to you and if you are interested..we have silk screened (Ironclad Graphics) tshirts with a Tully original sketch of a grizzly bear on it!

 

 

Journey Home reviewed in Exclaim!

 

DNTO with Sook-Yin Lee on CBC Radio One

order click here

Journey Home EP Cover Painting by: Mike Bayne

‘Everyone should get to hear this sweet and truthful music.’ — Bruce Cockburn
‘Kyra & Tully’s insidiously hooky songs have a way of sticking with you long after the disc stops spinning’. — Now Magazine (Toronto)

“The EP’s title track “Journey Home” is a proper Canadian folk tune. Using Lake Ontario as the setting for a melancholic song about love, it’s reminiscent of Joni Mitchell’s music— down tempo and melodic, glazed with a tint of sorrow and a feeling of loss.” Grey Owl Point Music Blog (Canada)

“There’s something distinctly Ontarian about Kyra and Tully’s fourth release, Journey Home. Between Kyra’s stunning, Sarah Harmer-esque vocals, the winter weather-inspired lyrics and the laid-back banjo arrangements (and perhaps their history of being featured on CTV’s Degrassi Junior High), this Kingston-based husband-wife duo is Central Canadiana to the core.”  Exclaim!  (Canada) 

New EP ‘Journey Home‘ release- 7:30pm, April 18, 15 at Chalmers United Church. In benefit for the Kingston Mosaic Group! Featuring Matthew Barber and special guests The Diaries.  Tickets $20 (children 12 and under free)  available online at  SNAPD Kingston   and at Brian’s Record Option.