Tony Kellogg // Don't Give Up on Love

Tony Kellogg

Don't Give Up on Love

Independent

4/5 stars

When everything you hope for from life is seemingly stripped away by a breakup, you can either lie down in defeat and mourn the loss or find hope and move on with your life. Having just gone through the same heartache that Tony was going through as he wrote these songs, this album is exactly what I needed at just the right time. When self-doubt creeps in, it's consoling to hear the songs "I Don't Know" and "Love Again" to know that someone else is experiencing the same thing. Anyone who feels a deep anger at betrayal can relate to lyrics like "I don't care what you do any more" from the angsty "About You." Some of these tunes could have used the power of a band backing up his clear acoustic chord strumming, but Tony's stripped-down simple earnestness is perfect for most of the songs, especially "Song for Sophie #3," the closing tear-jerker. Thanks, Tony, for giving me some hope. – Bryan Toy