TrueHeart

YOU GOT TO ADMIRE ANYONE who throws over their corporate chains and Park Cities roots to make music ‘cause the got to…and take one day at a time.

Okay, it was a family corporation selling toys but still it was loads more certain than the fates the music gods usually have in store for those who tempt them, especially for more mature players line Ross Vick.

He bailed and regrouped with his brother Patrick and sister Karen to form TrueHeart. The group’s self-titled album is recently out and showcases Ross’ songwriting and the group’s best facet—sweet harmonies and lush love songs. The blue-grass boys will quickly tell you there is nothing like sibling harmony and they are exactly right. Of course, singers need lyrics for the songs to mean anything and Ross and his family write and co-write some very philosophical and searching lines.

They wonder, as a Child of the Sixties and Seventies Late-Boomer eventually must, about how a life has been spent and what it all means and getting some groove on before the grim slide begins as they do in the track “Find My Bliss.”

There are some smooth tracks and some rock-outs and you can hear many of the TrueHearts’ influences including the Beach Boys (whom they have opened for), Crosby-Stills, the Beatles, Steve Miller and Boz Skaggs, the Carpenters and Burt Bacharach.

Very strong covers of “Getting Better” and “Love the One You’re With” mix well with the originals as the band attempts to appeal to “the Baby Boomers needs. We’re here to offer something familiar but new and fresh with slices of our generation’s life to share and hold onto,” says the sixth-generation Texan Vick. Their great-great- granddaddy signed the Great State’s divorce declaration from Mexico.

He hooked up with Grammy-winning engineer Phil York of Irving, and the record is pristine in its parts.

The Grammies have recognized Ross’ earlier “One by One” as a “contender” in the categories of Pop Vocal Album of the Year. His “What is Mine” record also received notice in the categories of Best New Artist, Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

You can get a copy by contacting truehearttexas.com.
- Richard Clarke

I’m having a little bit about a problem telling you about THE ROAD by Trueheart. Trueheart is the brainchild of Ross Vick, who handles songwriting, vocals, and rhythm guitar chores for Trueheart. Vick left a sales and marketing gig to follow his dream and the first result is THE ROAD, a twelve song set that hews to a well-crafted if fairly predictable formula that doesn’t take chances.

My problem is that THE ROAD is aimed right at the 22 to 35 year old female demographic, and doesn’t leave an inch of wiggle room for the guys out there. Nothing wrong with that; Sick Of It All, for example, aims for a similarly narrow audience, white males between 16 and 30 who missed the bus to college (as well as a small number of females that you probably wouldn’t want to bring home to mom). It’s just tough to relate to. Think Rupert Holmes, Kenny Rankin, Air Supply, or David Gates. Bland guitar/organ/drum arrangements, but very nicely done, even pretty in spots, but nothing that will stir the soul of the savage male beast. “Goodbye” is a break up song sung by a guy, but written from a woman’s point of view. Guys…when you break up with someone, how do you do it? Do you start running down all of the wonderful things yo u’ve done together but say it’s not working, or do you just not call anymore? Hey, I tried the “Goodbye” method once, and it didn’t --- doesn’t work. But it’s what women think they want, and Trueheart taps right into it. Vick has an incredibly pleasant voice, and he obviously knew what he was doing when he dropped his office gig. Let me be crystal clear on this: THE ROAD is not a project that sounds like your next door neighbor had a brain fart, quit his job, strapped on a guitar, and became the next Wild Man Fischer. Vick has all the chops --- songwriting, vocals, and guitar --- and he surrounds himself with some competent players to fill out his sound as well. It’s just that you’re not gonna hear any of these tracks as background music to the next John Madden video game.

I reiterate: women will love this very well done disc. They’ll throw on “My Time” while getting ready to go out, and dance around to it as they get dressed. But guys? No, unless they’re buying it for their girlfriends, wives, or both. - music-reviewer.com

TrueHeart "The Road," 2007 Decidedly and unabashedly mainstream, TrueHeart, aka singer-songwriter Ross Vick and whoever is backing him up, actually lists Christopher Cross as an influence on his MySpace page. That takes cajones. He is a mid-life career-changer from Texas -- now off the corporate merry-go-round-who has a voice that could be twenty-two. It is pristine, pop-ready, without a trace of the passing years that must have threatened to bury him. They haven't. Instead of fronting a corporate logo band, he is placing songs, opening for the Beach Boys and racking up chart stats on several fronts. What a freaking late bloomer. You've gotta hear his "Save Me" for its sheer Adult Contemporary "dare ya" indulgence, like Bacharach on testosterone. He sports a bit of Fogelberg's earnestness and Marshall Crenshaw's enthusiasm. And yes, I admit, I do hear a bit of Christopher Cross in the mix. © Steve Klingaman - minor7th.com

Trueheart is a unique band in today's music world. They are not only acknowledging the soft rock of the 70s, but they are also reinventing it with a contemporary twist. If you like feel good music along the lines of Dan Fogelberg, Seals & Crofts, America, or Bread, this will be right up your alley.

What hits you right away from the very first track, Still Time, are the tight, dense harmonies of no less than four vocalists. You just don't hear that anymore. Many bands have trouble finding one person who can carry a tune.

As a singer myself, I appreciated Ross Vick's simple vocal style too. It is clear, unaffected, and perfect for this style of music. I don't know if he listened to a lot of the Moody Blues, but I definitely got a Justin Hayward vibe. Just listen to how he sings the chorus of Stay Right Here and you will see what I mean.

The production is excellent as well. Gary Leach gives us a clear, full sounding record that just jumps out of your speakers effortlessly.

There are many radio ready songs on this CD. From a glance at their website, www.truehearttexas.com, I see that Plan For Peace and The Road are already climbing the charts as we speak.

Don't be scared away by the soft rock label though. Lay Me Down and Where Are You? will get you up and dancing with some nice lead guitar work and there is a jazzy/funky vibe on My Time that reminded me of early Moxy Fruvous.

I'm looking forward to hearing more from Trueheart in the future.

Artist: Band: Trueheart
Album: The Road
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Production/Musicianship Grade: 10/10
Commercial Value: 10/10
Overall Talent Level: 10/10
Performance Skill: 10/10
Best Songs: Lay Me Down, Stay Right Here, King's Horses
- Chris Propfe - Muses Muse

Hailing from Texas, TrueHeart evokes memories of innocent childhoods, humming campfire songs with friends. There is an inviting, warm sensibility to this group that is felt through their songs. It's classic rock in the truest sense of the word, taking listeners back on waves of nostalgia.

The covers of the Beatles' "Getting Better" and Todd Rundgren's "I Saw the Light" actually serve an artistic purpose and not just a commercial one. First of all, they are performed with a deep-seated love for the material; secondly, for baby boomers they craft a bridge between the past and the present, showing us where they came from and impressing us now with impeccable tunes of their own.

The songs reflect a hopeful attitude that is very '60s, a long distance from much of today's fatalism. "Ain't Life Great" sums up TrueHeart's state of mind; in this post-9/11, post-Katrina world, it's a breath of fresh air to hear a group that isn't afraid to sing about the good things that the world has to offer.

As welcome as the positive lyrics are, the highlight of the record is truly in its shimmering harmonies. Karen V. Cavazos, Ross Vick, and Patrick Vick have such tremendous chemistry that they sound like birds in flight. Their singing soars, leaving you wanting for more. This is no corporate production; only real musicians with true hearts can produce music as utterly beautiful and emotionally uplifting as this. - Roger 'Red' Byrne-Freelancers United, Inc.

It isn't very often that I give an album the "It" rating. That grade is reserved for the Top of the Pops, a record that can be organized among the Chosen Few. Those who think all critics only reward revolutionary artistic pieces with such an accolade are wrong. While I can't make the case for other reviewers, a "perfect" album is merely one that doesn't stumble on its way to greatness, achieving whatever goals it may have.

The trio of TrueHeart (http://www.truehearttexas.com)- all siblings, by the way - must have been straight A students back in the day because everything on their new self-titled CD is produced to the highest order: the deluxe packaging of the CD, the untainted studio gloss, the flawless singing, the crystalline instrumentation, the delicious melodism of the pop hooks. It's a beauty from beginning to end, front to back, top to bottom.

TrueHeart offers retro rock of a different kind than the '80s revival which has grown in popularity lately. This is soft rock for baby boomers, reminiscent of America, Bread, and even Jackson Browne. "Ain't Life Great" introduces listeners to the sumptuous harmonies of Karen V. Cavazos, Ross Vick, and Patrick Vick; sounding like Fleetwood Mac without the acidic lyrics, "Ain't Life Great" is a glorious burst of sunshine.

Of the three classic-rock covers, their version of Todd Rundgren's "I Saw the Light" works the most effectively, making the original even more transcendent with its speaker-filling and absolutely soothing vocal work. But their original material stands on its own against the proven oldies, especially the utterly charming "Tripped Up," the jangly "Right Words," and "Take Life," which is as dreamy and wind-swept as Classic IV's "Spooky."

This is an LP that baby boomers have been aching for, an album that hits the pop highs of the Beatles without sounding archaic. It deserves every star I'm giving it.
- Adam Harrington-WhisperinAndHollerin.com

TrueHeart wants you to know that they rock it—family style. But never fear Hanson haters. This is an adult pop-rock outfit with great chops and rock-n-roll songwriting skills that never come unhinged at the seams. While busy wrapping themselves around in multiple part harmonies, TrueHeart allows for folksy roots and alt-country themes that barely edge their way out of the mix. Life is grand when listening to one of Dallas’ more stellar up-and-coming acts. - Smother.net

As I said goodbye to my grandfather, I remembered the times he used to sing to me as a child, his voice clear as water, embracing my ears with its warmth. TrueHeart's CD arrived the day that I attended his funeral. My heart felt heavy, aching with a deep-seated pain that felt as surreal as it was agonizing. I didn't feel like listening to music or doing anything at all. But I wanted some relief from the sadness. Thinking that I would just let it spin in the background, the first song on TrueHeart's album, "Ain't Life Great" left me in tears. Don't get me wrong; it's not a melancholy track. However, the completely pure and absolutely immaculate harmonies of brothers Ross and Patrick Vick and sister Karen V. Cavazos moved me profoundly. Here is a group that sings with an untainted love for pop and human existence itself.

Is it so difficult to imagine, in these days of mindless violence and corporate greed, that a band as sincere and sweet as TrueHeart could exist? I spent the whole day thinking about what it means to be alive, and here was TrueHeart to provide a soundtrack to what I was going through. Critics often forget that we began as fans; our connection to music was initially not intellectual but emotional.

TrueHeart is a group with no pretensions, no appetite for glamor, no tongue for pointless rage. Their tunes are pretty as falling leaves in the rain; their collective singing is chills-to-the-bone gorgeous.

The entire LP reminded me of my grandfather, who always taught me to be positive. I cried the whole time I was listening to TrueHeart, but those were not tears of sorrow that I shed. It was the impact of being touched. Songs such as "Take Life" and the beautifully spirited rendition of Todd Rundgren's "I Saw the Light" will be treasured forever.

I thought records like this were not made anymore. This is the most uplifting folk rock you'll hear in your lifetime. I wish my grandfather were alive to hear it. However, he'll be on my mind whenever I play it as I recall the days when he sang to me with as much passion and affection as TrueHeart does here. - Kyrby Raine-ink19.com

Remember when driving was still a pleasure in the days before nose-to-tail traffic jams and urban congestion charges?

You’ll be happy to hear, then, all is not lost. And all thanks to the elaborate harmonies, driving guitar solos and introspective lyrics that make up the heart and soul of The Road, the latest CD from American adult band, TrueHeart.

With luxuriant yet pure production values, the emphasis is on the lyrics and melodies, comfortably completed by the vocal work of TrueHeart composer and lead singer, Ross Vick. The song fare of falling in and out of love and back in again is explored from different angles by this contemplative adult contemporary collection.

Dealing with loss, pain and recovery are amplified with poignant arrangements so that as you hear and comprehend the words, the soundtrack to those images compliments the mood perfectly.

This very much is an album with something to say. Beginning with the hopeful “Still Time”, The Road takes listeners along on a adventure where each track explores nooks and crannies of just getting through the day. Some tracks dust off old memories and ask the age-old question, “What is the meaning of life”? And others are looking forward to dreamy happy ever after endings while coming to grip with bittersweet realities. The final track asks the question “Where are you” – and leaves you wondering just who the “You” is.

Ross Vick changed careers at mid life not so long ago and had his first single record “The Road” moves successfully up the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Charts into the top 30! He told Wanobe: “The myth about the music industry being the exclusive play ground for young people as emerging and new artists has a hairline fracture in it called: TrueHeart. We are visiting the challenges and opportunities of offering new music to this, the generation that set the standard for supporting world change and the music that reflected that change.”

Great stuff, Ross! You make my heart sing because you are a living, walking, singing example to all of us that passing fifty is just the next step in life’s great adventure - if you want to live life out loud, that is.

TrueHeart is based in Dallas, Texas. The Road is one deserving of a long serene Sunday drive. Get in the groove and check out The Road, TrueHeart and Ross Vick out at http://www.TrueHeartTexas.com .

SPECIAL OFFER! The first 10 people to review TrueHeart's The Road below will get a free copy of the album with the compliments of Ross, the band and your team at wanobe.com! Please make sure you provide us your email address so we can get in touch about where to snail-mail you the CD. - Wanobe-The Lifestyle Place for Those Over Fifty

When I get a CD from a certain PR industry figure I get excited because I really never know what I will be reviewing. This next CD I put right on and it was as easy listening as a pina colada in the Solarium on a Royal Caribbean cruises.

The leader and creator of Trueheart is a man by the name of Ross Vick from Texas. After 25 years in the toy industry Ross's wife urged him to find a new line of work. It was right there that Trueheart was born. Five years and four albums later here we have his biggest release to date, 'The Road.' Ross was even able to get famed engineer, Gary Leach, to help write & record this album. I would say that the magic was there.

After listening to this CD a few times it becomes pretty apparent that Trueheart stays true to themselves and their sound. Like any real musician they know what works for them and their fans and they try to stay within those lines while creating new songs and melodies. I can appreciate that as a music enthusiast and journalist.

This band is still considered an indie band. I must say that the packaging & production on the CD is far from indie. The booklet is very well done with pictures, lyrics, and paper stock, which is better for the environment. The sound quality is top notch as well. The CD was recorded at Rosewood Studios in Tyler, TX. My favorite sounding track is, "Still Time."

Ross does not hold back in his songwriting on this album. He also covers many topics such as love, relationships, life, war, sickness, and much more. I found, "Goodbye" to be a deep and meaningful song with a message of loss. As for the hit song on this album I will have to go with the charts on this one. Track three, "The Road" is just the total combination of a hit song. Great melody, lyrics, and just a nice sounding song.

I am truly taken back by Trueheart. This album is very well done and should be an adult-contemporary program directors wet dream. If you are looking for a soft rock/pop album that is strong the whole way through give Ross Vick and Trueheart a listen. - Mikey Frieds - Skope Magazine