Album Review – Tyller Gummersall’s “Heartbreak College”

From Texas via Colorado, instilling this music with the grit of the honky tonk and the grand expanse of the American West, Tyller Gummersall is a singer and songwriter that rekindles the rugged lineage of the great cowboy poets and singing rancheros into beer-soaked ballads about the heartbreak in life that comes from real experiences instead of the regurgitated recitations of tired old country music tropes.
Traditional country to the core with three of the tracks produced by the legendary Lloyd Maines (the rest by Gummersall), this collection of twelve songs penned mostly by Gummersall himself, but with a few assists from Devon O’Day and the great Jim Lauderdale, is bound to slide under-the-radar due to the straightforward nature of the approach, but is determined to be heard by those willing to root out the best in traditional country, regardless of the general name recognition of the artist.
Heartbreak College provides ample opportunity for the listener to commiserate and identify, including some of the stories of romantic heartache like you hear in the title track. But what makes this effort so especially resonant at this moment in time when the Coronavirus blues have everyone on edge is how Gummersall speaks to the frustrations and crippling fears and anxieties of the working man, while also reminding us of the most important things in life.

Country music has always been the music that speaks most categorically to the blue collar and paycheck worker who spends a lifetime with mere days or weeks in reserves instead of months or years. Many songs have spoken to these notions, but “Working Man” by Tyler Gummsersall does it better than most. The inherent unfairness in both life in general and within the country music realm is what Tyller lays out so well in the final song on the record, “Turned Around World.”
An album written and recorded well before the term ‘Coronavirus’ was part of the common vernacular, you could be fooled into thinking otherwise when you hear the song “I’m Not Dead,” which puts all of our daily gripes back into perspective, as does “Love Me When I’m Down” when so many men are facing the inability to bring home the daily bread at the moment. Further songs like “Fathers and Sons” and “How Did I Get Here” help to recalibrate current concerns to focus on what really matters in life.
You do ask yourself as you listen through Heartbreak College what it is that Tyller Gunmmersall offers that is inventive or unique in the traditional country realm beyond a name with two L’s. The music is great with Lloyd Maines steel and lead guitar, but what will separate him from the herd of traditional country performers? And though there are a lot of great songs here, a couple of lines on otherwise quality efforts probably could have been reworked a little better. The songwriting of Heartbreak College also gets better as the album goes on, so be patient if you find yourself a little underwhelmed at first. Gummersall saves some of the best for last.
Growing up working on the ranches of southwestern Colorado, Tyller started singing, writing, and performing at a young age in the dancehalls of the area, being taken under the wing of National Flat Pick Champion Gary Cook at the age of 8, and writing his first song at the age of 9. Now he’s trying to bust into the Texas country scene with his honest songs and straight laced approach. Though it’s a tough uphill battle for sure, it’s one Gummersall is built for, and his uncompromising sound makes him easy to root on.
In times of fear and trouble, we often turn to the tried and true things in life for assurance. The songs and sounds of country music are one of those rocks, those compass points to help keep our chin up and life in perspective, and Tyller Gummersall offers a great specimen of how and why that’s true in Heartbreak College.
1 1/2 Guns Up
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Purchase Heartbreak College
March 19, 2020 @ 10:38 am
So far “I’m Not Dead” is the best song of the year & is leading my playlist.
A great album & not the first album by Tyller Gummersall.
He released Long Ride Home in 2016 & The Makings Of A Man in 2013.
Tyller Gummersall is one of the many underrated artists & Nashville is signing pretty boys & even more pretty boys (Jaden Hamilton with cowboy hat & mainstream nash-pop sound – Sony… Restless Road a trio with nice harmonies & nash-pop sound – Sony…Sean Stemaly with “Come Back To Bed” a poor Sam Hunt copy – Big Loud…Trea Landon with a new EP (Dirt Road Dancin’) Warner is still trying to turn the boy into a teen country star…Big Machine is trying the same with Payton Smith. Curb is still pusing Filmore & RCA the awful Seaworth duo with the help of Bitches Tenpenny.
New Stuff:
Ray Scott – Nowhere Near Done – EP (6 Tracks) – Released (02/20)
Fine EP, no reason to skip a track. Love his voice.
The Shires – Good Years – Album (12 Tracks) – Released (03/12)
A 100% Shires album with the trademark harmony vocals & pure country pop. The duo
sounds good…but it’s more of the same.
Adam Brand – Speed Of Life – Album (10 Tracks) – Released (03/12)
After releasing half of the album (well…three or four tracks) as singles the new album by australian country star Adam Brand is out. It’s an ok album. Middle of the country-pop road.
My highlights are the last three tracks: the duet with former Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan “You Are Not Alone”, the soulful “Don’t Wanna Let You Down” & the hymn like “Time Of Our Lives”.
Dylan Wheeler – “Hey Baby” – Single/Track – Released
One to watch. Melodic rock/country. Dylan Wheeler placed a couple of songs on Texas playlists so far.
March 19, 2020 @ 10:49 am
Oops: it’s the awful Seaforth duo (not Seaworth). Makes the music not better.
Let’s not forget:
Next week Kim Richey (her last album Edgeland was so damn underrated) will release A Long Way Back: The Songs of Glimmer & James Robert Webb will release his new self-titled album.
March 19, 2020 @ 10:56 am
I get the same gut feeling like when i heard Colter Wall’s Imaginary Appalachia for the first time; this is absolutely brilliant and it’s merley the beginning.
March 19, 2020 @ 10:58 am
Oh Dang.
Mmmm hmmm,
He be good lookin’
Like his voice, a lot
March 19, 2020 @ 10:59 am
Like.
March 19, 2020 @ 11:46 am
Good sound. Agree that it might not stand out much from the field (if you’re getting new music from SCM like I am), but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
March 19, 2020 @ 12:15 pm
A hidden treasure for sure. Won me over with “Livin on Summertime”; just a great country song…(takes me to Lucas Highway in the Catskills…). No false affectations, just honest country music from a real cowboy. No studio tricks, no laundry lists…even the “image” is real…Wrangler not H&M????. Can’t wait to get the CD. Reminds me a bit of stuff from Wade Hayes/Tyler England/ Paul Brandt back in the 90s when country was cool???????? More power to Tyller…
March 19, 2020 @ 12:26 pm
I really like his voice and sound. Simple production; can easily hear his voice & the lyrics. I downloaded his album to my amazon app. I will have to check out his album when I get a chance. Thanks!
March 19, 2020 @ 1:48 pm
Happy to see this review. We’ve enjoyed spinning Tyler’s tunes. Hopefully the write-up will broaden his audience. Great job as always Trigg.
March 19, 2020 @ 3:57 pm
I do like ‘working man’ great voice and lyrics!
March 19, 2020 @ 6:00 pm
I discovered him and his music when I was in Texas after Christmas. Saw him at Hye Dance Hall. He puts on a great show. His album Long Ride Home is good too! Great guy to boot!
March 20, 2020 @ 4:11 am
Alright, that’s some country right there.
March 20, 2020 @ 11:37 am
One man, one vote, but in times like this, when many of us will be stuck at home, perhaps indefinitely, the fresh feeling of being introduced to amazing artists like this that I never would encounter otherwise is incredibly helpful and vital, and, just my opinion, will be of greater benefit over the next few months than epidemic’s effect on the music business.
In any case, thank you so, so much for all the music i’ve been introduced to here over the years, you’ve done an incredible service to many, many folks that you probably never hear from.
March 20, 2020 @ 11:53 am
Thanks for reading BirkOx.
I wish I had a new discovery like Tyller Gummersall to introduce every day. Unfortunately talent like this is finite. That’s what makes it rewarding when we discover it. But I’m digging every day, going through reams and reams of submissions, suggestions, pitches by publicists, looking for the next gem to share. In the interim though, it’s also important to always look at the bigger picture, on how artists like Tyller can be supported so they can have sustainable careers. So I broach those subjects as well. But my first priority is always the music.
March 21, 2020 @ 6:24 am
Great review!
I recently stumbled on Billy Don Burns new release, it has a cover of Billie Gant’s “No God in Juarez”; I can’t believe that song isn’t a monster hit.
March 21, 2020 @ 9:38 am
Really like what I’m hearing from those two tracks so will have to check out the album. Nice to see someone like this come out of Colorado (my home state) too!
Love this website – thanks again for uncovering the gems Trigger!
March 21, 2020 @ 11:53 pm
Trihger Look into Jonathan parker, he’s a good old boy from north Carolina. Got a new album coming next month I believe. The two singles so far are solid country
April 20, 2020 @ 9:32 am
I’ve tried to refrain from giving my opinions on albums when they first come out because I like to wait a few days or weeks to see how often I go to it or back to it etc….. Which pretty much will put me the last in many album review threads. I liked the sound of this straight away, of course Working Man resonated with me first…..so fuckin powerful and appropriate for the times. I like all these songs and his voice…the timber!!!. This album fits right the rotation with Jesse Daniel, Panhandlers, and Gabe Lee. Will be a summer 2020 stalwart!