There are times when my desk has piles of CDs (or increasingly mp3s in virtual stacks of CDs) and it’s hard to make the time to listen to all of the records but that thrill of discovery has always had me listening to stuff I may otherwise never have heard and thankfully, I found Michael Logen’s New Medicine.
Logan, an artist who is often found making music that ends up getting synched to national TV programs, is a talented vocalist. He features a wide variety of textures and sounds throughout the record showcasing why he’s become a go to guy for songs to fit well within soundtracks. Opener “St. Christopher” may be one of the most sophisticated openers I’ve heard on an album in 2016 and its followed up by one of the best ballads of the year in “Ready Or Not,” a song with lyrical and melodic depth that few mainstream A-listers can match.
There are a handful of Americana guests on the record including Liz Longley, Kim Richey and Ruby Amanful and they’re on a trio of stunning songs. The rootsy, moody “Human After All,” the heartbreaking lyrical stunner “The Next Thing” and groove-filled, violin-laced “Best Of You” showcase a singer who could have a career as a duet artist if he ever chose to.
“Look Out Your Window” is graceful with melodic flourishes while “Paper Thin” has some weary, soul-searching lyrics. All of these songs are the kinds which allow Michael Logen to show off his sturdy, David Gray-like vocal, one of the calling cards to this very strong record. Speaking of very strong, if there is a song that deserves the most attention on the record it is the jovial “Cannonball Embrace (Hey Hey Hey),” a much-needed dose of uptempo melodic levity (though it’s about how much you love someone and want to be with them forever).
Everything about New Medicine feels well thought out, the lyrics and melodies demand your attention and Michael Logen’s talent shines throughout each track giving us one of the best records — in any genre — to see the light of day in 2016.
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