For The First Time, Again. Tyler Ballgame

Listening to For The First Time, Again for the second or third time, things started to fall in place. My introduction to Tyler Ballgame was via one of the singles for this album and that did no go down well. This does not keep me from listening to the album. In that second time I decided to start paying attention for real, as the first time did strike a cord.

The reason is quite easy to explain. From faint traces of Jeff Buckley to City + Colour, Ballgame's voice brought instant memories. Enough to start listening in earnest. Just hear his voice jump up in e.g. 'I Believe In Love', the second song on the album and you know enough.

With a name like Tyler Ballgame, you know to look beyond it. His true name is Tyler Perry, from Rhode Island, the smallest U.S. state. He started work on the album during the pandemic and early in 2026 is ready to share the whole with us. My God, with 'You're Not My Baby Tonight' he becomes a cross between Elvis and Jeff Buckley. If you think this is lunacy, just listen to the track to be convinced. It is a song that Elvis could have recorded effortlessly in his 1970s years. It is Ballgame's voice that brings the Buckley part in there. This man is not afraid to use an Elvis vibrato or to shoot up his voice like Jeff.

It is only an announcement of how diverse For The First Time, Again is. You will even encounter a The Rolling Stones style rocker in the form of 'Matter Of Taste'. No, Tyler Ballgame is no Mick Jagger, his voice even becomes rather ugly at some point, but his band rocks full out and that is exactly what the song needs. Later on in the album you'll find him explore a jazzy track and a Latin vibe.

After moving to L.A., Ballgame started participating in open mics, created a fanbase around himself and attracted the attention of Jonathan Rado and Ryan Pollie who wanted to make a record with him. From one came more new songs and here they are. If anything the album showcases the voice of Tyler Ballgame. The songs are built around his voice and allows him to explore all his ranges and tones. No, Tyler Ballgame is no Jeff Buckley, but then I have never heard anyone else song like that and I am one of the lucky ones to have heard him sing live. A struck by lighting, caught in my tracks kind of experience it was. That Ballgame is not, but he is special and very much worth while to explore. I would give him a chance and then another if necessary, just like I did.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order For The First Time, Again here:

https://tylerballgame.bandcamp.com/album/for-the-first-time-again