Frank Hurd is a name that has been known on campus for several years. He was part of the campus-based band Phoenix Highway, which released its extended play, or EP, “American Blend” last year. On Sept. 12, he released his debut solo project, an EP titled “Pressed for Time.” It peaked at No. 11 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart, alongside notable names like James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel and The Civil Wars.
Hurd’s music fits right in with that category.
The EP begins with “Time Flies Like an Arrow,” starting a theme that runs throughout the seven-track disc. The opening lines ask, “Have you ever thought about where all the time has gone and wonder why it keeps on moving and it won’t stop no matter what we try?” The track is about the fragility of time and how it seems to escape most people.
Another common theme of the EP is love and how time can sometimes interfere with it. “Something About You” discusses falling in love and looking back to see how the romance blossomed. In “The Seasons Still Change,” Hurd sings about how passion remains through the seasons: “Just tell me you still feel the same, and the seasons still change.”
Hurd’s voice fits the homegrown folk genre well. The songwriting is not outstanding, but his clever and nostalgic look at love forces the listener to think about loves they have lost and sing right along with Hurd.
One thing is guaranteed: If you listen through this album twice, you will quickly get the songs stuck in your head. The catchy choruses and soothing instrumentations are worth your money.