In an effort to fully jump into the nerdy end of the pool, I’ve recently purchased unique urls and built dedicated websites for the three albums that I’m endlessly promoting. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing my new album websites:

BittersweetParade.com
LongBeforeTheWheel.com
AnotherGleam.com

The goal was to make them simple and standard. There’s nothing too fancy about any of them but my hope is that it gives people another place to learn about the various records that I’ve created and who knows, maybe even buy a copy or three.

BITTERSWEET PARADE .COM

LONG BEFORE THE WHEEL .COM

ANOTHER GLEAM .COM

Can You Help Me Rank My Horses?

I am trying to figure out which of my latest 3 albums is my “best” album — the strongest horse in my race — to help me focus on which one I should be sending out to the powers that be.

Because music is often an emotional decision, I believe math is the answer here.

Please fill out the small survey below and email the results to info (at) tylerstenson (dot) com

RANK THE FOLLOWING SONGS ON A SCALE OF 1-10
(one being “ehhh” and ten being “wow”)

BITTERSWEET PARADE (2010):
Welcome the Change:
The Road:
I Get No Sleep:
Great Man’s Funeral:
You Already Know:
As the Crow Flies:
Push that River:
Explode:
Blush:
Fight til Dying Day:
Wyoming:

Don’t have it? Buy it here!

LONG BEFORE THE WHEEL (2010):
Leave Oregon:
Daffodils:
That Moon:
Clover:
We Grow:

Don’t have it? Buy it here!

ANOTHER GLEAM (2011):
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH SEE THAT GLEAM from 2008!!
Big Hearts:
Cellophane:
Better Be Us All:
Whistle Stop:
Paper Plane:
Come Around:
Popo Agie:
Getting Old:
Separate Things:
The Bus:
Feeling the Sun:
Fingertip:
Babysitting the Cowboy:
Carry On:

Don’t have it? Buy it here!

I will figure out the average rating strength of each album and consider the record with the highest average to be my best. THANK YOU ALL.

I hope it has never been a secret about where I was born; Wyoming. Many songs have referenced this Western space and it holds a most dear piece of my heart. Although I am a Portlander at the core and by trade, I am endlessly proud of these roots…

A few years ago when I wrote a song about Wyoming for my Bittersweet Parade album, I sent it to the Wyoming Tourism Bureau and even though they enjoyed the song, they didn’t have any use for it at the time.

However, years later, the Wyoming Ad Council has called me with a use: They’re doing a targeted “Visit Wyoming” campaign in Pioneer Square (in Portland, OR) and will be leveraging my Wyoming roots and my Portland connection for their weekend long event.

MORE ON THE EVENT:

Forever West | 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Want to get a taste of Wyoming and see what it feels like to Roam Free? Come on down to experience all that Wyoming has to offer, and for a chance to win your own vacation to an authentic dude ranch! Enjoy samples of delicious bison burgers, chili, and yummy candies – straight from the source. Also, learn to rope, take your picture running from a bucking bull or on top of Old Faithful and listen to music from Wyoming native, Tyler Stenson. For more information about Wyoming, click here.

WYOMING

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With the holiday season fast approaching, nothing would help me more than you taking this time to introduce someone to my music. Whether they’ve never heard of me before or only have a couple of my six albums, there is all kinds of music to go around and I’m confident that any music lover would enjoy my music as their gift. Pass it on.

BROWSE ALL OF MY ALBUMS HERE

LONG BEFORE THE WHEEL
CD Baby
iTunes

BITTERSWEET PARADE
CD Baby
iTunes

SEE THAT GLEAM
CD Baby
iTunes

LANDER LIVE at MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS
CD Baby
iTunes

ORANGE CHROME SKY
CD Baby
iTunes

THE LOW CEILING
CD Baby
iTunes

The Portland Music Awards has begun taking nominations for this year’s award show that will showcase Portland’s best talent. Although many categories are up for fulfillment, please help me out by voting Tyler Stenson as “Best Male Artist” on this year’s ballot.

Voting is easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Go to http://bit.ly/akdIA9
2. Enter “Tyler Stenson” in the “Best Male Artist” field
3. Press the enter button at the bottom of the page to submit your vote
NOTE: You can vote for anyone else in any of the other categories!

My 2010 accomplishments to back your votes:
1. I recorded and released 2 albums in 2010 (Bittersweet Parade and Long Before the Wheel)
2. I’ve sold over 1,000 physical albums in 2010 alone (9,000 overall)
3. I’ve had more than 50,000 songs downloaded within the calendar year
4. I initiated and succeeded in a fan-funded fundraiser through Kickstarter.com
5. I was featured on the KINK.fm Local Music Sampler
6. I have toured the 4 corners of the United States to promote my efforts
7. I wrote a theme song for a TV show that will air in November
8. I pride myself in being one of the hardest working musicians in Portland
9. Here’s a free song from my new album to sweeten the deal: http://bit.ly/cXRS9J

In honor of my new EP Long Before the Wheel, I’m giving away my full length album Bittersweet Parade for FREE — all I ask in return is that you spread the word far and wide and at least consider buying Long Before the Wheel when it’s released on October 2nd.

SAMPLE MIX:

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As always, thank you endlessly for your support. Please enjoy this free album to the fullest and be sure to tell everyone you know about the deal you just got (post this link on Facebook, Twitter, mySpace, etc). Pass it on.

DOWNLOAD BITTERSWEET PARADE HERE OR BY CLICKING ON THE IMAGE ABOVE.

My record Bittersweet Parade was recently featured on The Music Critic UK as the August 2010 Album of the Month! These are some of the kindest words I’ve ever heard toward my music and much needed at this time. Please read the review below and feel free to leave your own here.

Tyler Stenson: Bittersweet Parade – Album of the Month – August 2010

Every so often you get an album through to review that kinda takes you by surprise. In Tyler Stensons case the surprise is that he is not a bigger name than he is. The singer songwriter from Portland is a well known face on the cities local music scene but Stenson comes equipped for bigger things. The music is simple yet mesmerisingly beautiful and the voice distinctive, full of warmth, expression and with an aching sorrow in it at times. I’ve never heard of Stenson before this album but he has been a productive boy with a clutch of albums and ep’s before this release with some glowing reviews to boot.

The music is primarily acoustic and flirts with folk, Americana and bluegrass but it is none of these. Instead it takes on a pop element without being poppy. Confusing I know but suffice to say that the songwriting is of a quality that the like of Ryan Adams and Jackson Browne would struggle to match. This is beautiful, heartfelt and honest music that is performed with a conviction and passion that is simply irresistible.

Straight from the start you are in no doubt that you are listening to something very special. Opener Welcome The Change introduces a confident voice comfortable with intelligent lyrics that draw the listener in rather than patronising them and all set to a deceptively simple melody that is underpinned by driving acoustic guitar and flashes of mandolin. The Road is no less of a masterpiece, in fact there is nothing on this album for anyone to remotely dislike. The production is equally as impressive as the music, enveloping the whole album in a warm glow with space to allow the instrumentation to breath.

On an album of this quality it is hard to pick out individual tracks for praise but if pushed I would have to say that As The Crow Flies is a particular favourite. In fact I am struggling to think of when I have ever heard such a beautiful and mesmerising piece of music as this. It is a remarkable song and quite breathtaking.

This is by far one of the most accomplished and beautiful albums that I have ever heard and Tyler Stenson has produced something that he should be justifiably proud of. I seriously can’t believe that this man is not a star as he has proved with this album that he is in every sense of the word. I can’t recommend this album enough. Seriously…. buy it.

Read more: http://www.themusiccritic.co.uk/2010/07/tyler-stenson-bittersweet-parade-album.html#ixzz0upVEVE91

I was quite honored today when I logged on to Facebook to find an invite for a group titled: Tyler Stenson’s “Wyoming” Should Be the Official State Song. I had no idea this group had been formed but I must admit, I have zero objection to the cause. I’m truly honored that my song has made the impact that it has and I’m humbled that others would even attempt to get it recognized on a larger level.

I suppose the attention began last summer when I performed my song about Wyoming at the Oyster Ridge Music Festival in Kemmerer, WY — the song, it seemed, received a beaming appreciation from the crowd and this Facebook group is the result.

That said, I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be returning to the Oyster Ridge Music Festival this year where I’ll be kicking off the festivities with a special first-of-its-kind Thursday night showcase on July 29th. I just found out about this performance so as usual, I’m very excited to return to my place of birth — Wyoming.

WYOMING

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Tyler Stenson @ the Oyster Ridge Music Festival
Thursday July 29th, 2010
Kemmerer, WY

Please do me the honor of joining Tyler Stenson’s “Wyoming” Should Be the Official State Song. May this group take us places!

In February I received a very kind write-up in The West Linn Tidings — my hometown’s weekly newspaper. Centered around the release of my new album Bittersweet Parade, writer Nicole DeCosta documented the evening of my release party in grand fashion.

FULL ARTICLE:

STENSON’S HOMECOMING is BITTERSWEET
West Linn Tidings – February 4, 2010 – Nicole Decosta

West Linn High School graduate Tyler Stenson released a CD this month titled Bittersweet Parade and features 11 songs. He recently played at the Crystal Ballroom.

Dimmed lights revealed a packed room of preppy-dressed twentysomethings facing a corner stage. And when Tyler Stenson – with his guitar and dressed in his signature blue jeans – strummed his first chord, the chattering fell silent. Some hushed listeners closed their eyes as Stenson’s biographical lyrics transported them into his head for an hour.

On Jan. 21, singer/songwriter Stenson released his latest album Bittersweet Parade to a packed house of friends, family and some that found his music online and wandered over to see what the parade was outside Lola’s Room beneath the Crystal Ballroom in Portland.

“It’s my birthday and he’s hot,” said Portland resident Anne Kelton, who hadn’t heard the West Linn graduate’s music live before the event.

The line snaking onto West Burnside Street brought many passerby to ask “who’s playing?”

Stenson – voted several times as Portland’s Songwriter of the Year – moved from Portland to Nashville, Tenn. In October to “take his talent to a bigger stage,” as his web site states. His well-received homecoming introduced attendees to Bittersweet Parade, with the same mellow, straightforward poetry set to sounds as his previous release See That Gleam.

On this special night, Stenson’s soft vocals floated through the room with help from his live band. The ambiance was gentle, honest and a year in the making.

“The band is super-dynamic. He’s got great vocals. It’s an honor to see him in Portland,” said Portland resident Maggie Brown whose boyfriend, Jake Oken-Berg, played piano on the CD.

Stenson isn’t just a musician, but a songwriter – he doesn’t just write words that sound cool with music, he unleashes his soul. His passion for the craft can make for sleepless nights, as he documents on his favorite song the album titled I Get No Sleep, inspired by a time when he lived and worked in Portland near a noisy train track.

“I get no sleep with these trains in my head / As far as I can see, I’ve got tracks running down both sides / It started as a steady hum / Became a war-time drum / And eventually North and Southbound collide.”

As Stenson introduces new audiences across the country to his sound, he savors his unique songwriting and isn’t afraid to adapt to his new surroundings, as reminded on Welcome the Change.

“I’m in love with the stars because I envy how they hang / As constant constellations in an ever-changing space / I’ve been alive for one instant and I can already feel me fade / Unlike them, I’ve begun to blend like one color against the same / And that ain’t me.”

For more information and to purchase the album visit www.tylerstenson.com. To watch videos with Stenson explaining the songwriting process for each song on the album visit http://www.youtube.com/user/landerband.

This video was recently sent to me by my good friend Jeff who has been raising his son right. Last seen in a Lander onesie, this cute kid has been listening to my newest album and, I’m proud to say, he’s even singing along!

The video you’re about to watch is of my youngest fan singing the chorus of my song Welcome the Change. Though it may not be entirely articulate, the lyric is “So, I welcome the change.” Thanks Jeff for the video and raising the boy well.

For your reference, here is the song in its entirety. Enjoy.

WELCOME THE CHANGE

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