Taylor Bradshaw: “The Man I’d Rather Be” (2023) CD Review

Taylor Bradshaw is a singer and songwriter based in New York. He released his first full-length album, Twine, in 2020. That album featured original material, which was mostly a good raw rock, with some softer songs with folk elements, specifically “Laura,” “Pull The Rug” and the title track (interestingly, the three shortest tracks on the disc). He has now followed that with an EP titled The Man I’d Rather Be, this one also containing original material. With this release, he has moved more decidedly into the folk realm than the previous release, the music here more in line with those three tracks I mentioned than the rest of that earlier album. Joining him on these tracks is Hamilton McKay on banjo and pedal steel. Taylor Bradshaw chose an unusual way to initially present these tracks online, introducing them over the course of five days, each day focusing on one song and giving the story behind its writing and recording. This release was produced by Julian Giaimo.

The disc opens with “Unkind.” The music in the opening section of the song is pretty and hopeful, with perhaps even a touch of the ethereal. Interestingly, when he begins to sing, the lyrics take us to a more serious place, dealing with a breakup. “I don’t know, let’s take it a step at a time/I think you want to see him again/Yes, in fact I know he’s always on your mind.” It is like he wants the music to take him to a more cheerful and wonderful place, for the music to guide him. Or perhaps the music itself wishes to accomplish that. And it does seem to work. Haven’t you found that music has helped in that regard, especially during these last several troubling years? I certainly have. And Taylor Bradshaw’s voice has a friendly, honest feel, a good companion on this strange road we’ve found ourselves on.

“Firefly” has a strong sense of rhythm. Here he sings, “You reach your hand above/And try to catch a firefly/But it’s gone, gone gone/Gone into the night.” An experience we can all relate to. The song then kicks in, taking on some rock elements. And the person he is speaking to becomes the firefly, or is likened to one, an interesting and effective comparison. And so he sings of her, “Now you’ve packed your bags and flown away/Left me with this broken dream/You’re gone, gone, gone.” This track features some cool work on pedal steel. Then “The Final Night” begins in a mellower place, and features a kind of sweet whistling part. “In another world where we both could hide/I’d stay with you all my life/I say, ‘Don’t be afraid,’ but my eyes betray/Tomorrow means goodbye.” The acoustic instrumentation gives the song a more immediate feel, which works with its theme and feel.

“Not Your Man” is about a connection between two people that is happening over the phone, but with the knowledge that one day they’ll be together again and that a line might be difficult to avoid crossing. “Start calling me when you’re sick of him/And I’ll understand/But you’re throwing me in the thick of it/And I’m not your man.” This track features some nice work on banjo. Then in the second half, the song takes a turn, taking on more power, a steady beat, a greater energy. It then returns to the softer place before the end. The EP concludes with its title track, “The Man I’d Rather Be.” It’s a compelling title, and when the phrase first shows up in the song, it is not in the way you might expect. Taylor Bradshaw sings, “Are you talking to me/Or straight through me/Or to someone else?/Your father/Or your mother/Or your boyfriend/Or the man I’d rather be?” It is interesting, for this man he’d rather be seems to be in relation to someone else’s perception, this idea of a man that he thinks this woman might be speaking to. Also compelling is the idea that when we are speaking to someone, we may in fact be speaking to a collection of people, people from our lives, trying to make some sense of unresolved trouble from our past. And then it changes, as he turns the question on himself. And, really, how often when we are speaking to another person are we really speaking to ourselves? “Strange how we say each other’s names/When we’re speaking to ourselves/Change is for the clinically insane.” This track features some beautiful vocal work.

CD Track List

1. Unkind
2. Firefly
3. The Final Night
4. Not Your Man
5. The Man I’d Rather Be

The Man I’d Rather Be was released on April 15, 2023.