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A SoundPress.net CD Review
Michael Stanley is a life-long rock and roller from the heartland of America. He is a veritable legend in his hometown of Cleveland - synonymous to the region as Bruce Springsteen is with the New Jersey shore or Bob Seger is to the Detroit steel town. Sure enough, Stanley is cut from the same gritty cloth as these aforementioned figures and in the early 80's he was nearing the same type of national breakthrough success as these two with the Michael Stanley Band. The MSB songs "He Can't Love You" and "My Town" were radio hits and the band received wide exposure on MTV. But, an ill-timed dispute with his record label led to the demise of the Michael Stanley Band and kept MSB from capitalizing on their musical momentum. This however, wasn't the end of the story. Michael Stanley would go on to launch a prolific independent solo career including his most recent release The Hang from Line Level Recordings which is his tenth overall post-MSB record and what he calls the darkest album he's ever made. Unfortunately, for Michael this album was born out of real personal tragedy. In the span of a year and a half prior to the release of The Hang Michael lost both of his parents and dealt with the shocking death of his wife and long-time partner, Denise Skinner. Michael has said, "I think it would be fair to say that this is the 'darkest' album I've ever made as it was conceived during a particularly daunting eighteen month period in my life...but, that being said, I also think it's a testament of hope and to the power we accrue from those we chose to have at our side on our journey." Musically, the album breaks down into two camps - rockers and brutally honest refrains. Most of the songs are deep and cut to the bone - whether they deal with national issues or concerns closer to his heart. For the latter group the best of the album's 14-tracks are "The Last Great Illusion" which meanders on a mood of longing for something just out of reach - underscored by a smokey sax, crisp keys and a nice nylon lead. "Breaking Down" is a more up-tempo rocker that continues the theme of loss and change not necessarily for the better. On this track Stanley comes to terms with trying to keep things together while things around him - both personal and in the world - are coming apart at every turn. "When It Don't Come Easy" is fueled by a steady strum and sly slide while it reflects on life, change and love in a brooding and contemplative manner. "Fait Accompli" is the piano driven heart-wrenching realization by Stanley that his wife is truly gone. This mid-tempo number is an almost uncomfortable glimpse into his pain and loss and it is gripping and beautiful at the same time as it is surely sad. "Martha" is a striking acoustic send-off for his mother featuring some of her final words to Stanley in the chorus of the song. When not reflecting on his immediate personal predicament Stanley throws in a few more general observations on the state of the world - something that he has always done throughout his five-decade recording career. "From Somewhere Else" is the album opener and an upbeat and feel good anthem for the melting pot. Michael is saying that we all need to remember that our collective origins are from elsewhere and this fact has made this country great through the years and that we should be more welcoming and open to the current crop of newcomers - whoever they may be. "How Many Guitars Do You Need" is a biting stand against greed in light of the recent corporate scandals that have rocked the core of Stanley's America. Overall, The Hang features top-notch production with help from Bill Syzmczyk on the mixing board. Stanley's long-time backing band The Resonators provide the perfect base for the heavy topics that permeate the album and do so in a way that, well, really resonates. Fans of the Heartbreakers, 80's era Jackson Browne and Dire Straits will appreciate the rock that rolls off this record. Followers that might've lost track of Stanley following his chart success in the 80's should do themselves a favor and check out this record that's one of the best we've been sent all year. If you got 70 minutes to hang with the former MSB band leader I'm sure you'll find The Hang is truly worth your time. • Info: -- USA/OH: www.michaelstanley.com (Richard J. Lynch/SoundPress.net) |
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