Spencer Thomas + Tom Troyer at Flat Iron

The songs on Spencer Thomas’ new LP, The Joke of Life, (out now), much like a good joke, are many-layered. His talent is immediately obvious, with sleek composition and production throughout. There’s a nostalgic, everyman flair to his music that doesn’t hang on the influences of the past, but uses them as a guiding light to elevate his voice.
Songwriting reminiscent of Warren Zevon’s later work takes the helm as Thomas examines the gap that can be left between the expectations of life and the sometimes tenuous reality. Songs like “Misty Eyes”, “Fake Rain” and the album’s title track “The Joke of Life” present light-hearted, even laughable, acceptance of the often undesirable cards we’re dealt. The album chronicles a period of change and rebirth for Spencer, who is no stranger to the open road. Beneath the album’s more obvious virtues is a wit and longing borne from the experiences and struggles of a working-class musician....

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The songs on Spencer Thomas’ new LP, The Joke of Life, (out now), much like a good joke, are many-layered. His talent is immediately obvious, with sleek composition and production throughout. There’s a nostalgic, everyman flair to his music that doesn’t hang on the influences of the past, but uses them as a guiding light to elevate his voice.
Songwriting reminiscent of Warren Zevon’s later work takes the helm as Thomas examines the gap that can be left between the expectations of life and the sometimes tenuous reality. Songs like “Misty Eyes”, “Fake Rain” and the album’s title track “The Joke of Life” present light-hearted, even laughable, acceptance of the often undesirable cards we’re dealt. The album chronicles a period of change and rebirth for Spencer, who is no stranger to the open road. Beneath the album’s more obvious virtues is a wit and longing borne from the experiences and struggles of a working-class musician.
"The sadly beautiful, unassumingly wonderful The Joke of Life has all the creative twists, timeless melodies and emotional resonance of one of those ageless 70s singer/songwriter LPs you keep returning to: Warren Zevon, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney's Ram." - Magnet Magazine
 
"Throughout the ten-track collection, Thomas examines the space between expectations of life and the reality that sometimes clashes horribly with those expectations. At the same time, it sees the multi-talented artist working through a period of change and rebirth." - American Songwriter
 
 

Tom Troyer is a producer, audio engineer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the band Farewell Friend. With a penchant for stream-of-consciousness song craft and lyrical poetry, his compositions delve into the realms love, loss, and the complex tapestry of familial bonds. Tom's acoustic and stripped-down style resonates with a profound emotional depth and clarity. 
 

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