Coby Brown

by JJ Koczan

Coby Brown/ Truth Shines/ Independent
Grade: B+

An independently released EP proving the days of needing major label support to get a crisp, professional production sound are long dead, Coby Brown’s Truth Shines is the kind of thinking-person’s pop that holds appeal easily for fans of any number of adult alternative chart toppers.

An artist packing a significant amount of personality into a relatively small package, Brown is young, and sounds it, but is soulful as well, and has an energy to him that most NYC singer/songwriters would shy away from, but is unquestionably authentic given such genuine delivery.

Mostly acoustic instrumentation gives this short release an earthy sound and stands in contrast to the elaborate production and song arrangements. Brown’s band is wellassembled like a Lego racecar and comprises strings and keys for that extra bit of something special. If it was wine, it’d be a decent cabernet. Not at all dry.