Tarbox Remains True To Muse On Solo Debut Best known as the leader of Boston's Tarbox Ramblers, MIchael Tarbox sacrifices none of his band's intensity on My Primitive Joy, his solo debut. What's new is his use of an acoustic setting. Most of these songs are brief, and all have spare, understated melodies; their intimate sound is the result of a craft that strips away anything extraneous. Standouts include the album's title track, a gorgeous tangle of pedal steel and guitar that gains the world by letting it go, the coming of age tale Have You Been To The City? and the dream realms of At Dusk. Tarbox's expressive singing and vivid lyrics are front and center, and a spacious production gives listeners plenty of room to engage them. The result? A set of smart, haunting songs that constitutes his best work to date. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.