When music clearly conveys the deep emotions of the artist, it tends to leave a noticeable impact on the work. The world of rock is full of bands and artists channeling their softer sides to create heartfelt ballads, while others charge their music with the noise of chaotic rage that lashes out. Mr. Missy has achieved this emotional power while infusing the music with an Americana soul that takes the listener on a deeply emotional journey, making it less harrowing and more inspiring.
“Looking For You” wastes no time kicking off the album with some smooth guitar licks and slammin’ drums. When the smooth vocals of Mr. Missy hit the track, it seamlessly rolls with the track as the attitude and authority of the instrumentals dance with the powerful vocals. This power is perfectly illustrated in when he sings “let me in” as the guitar solo revs up right alongside the vocals, which makes for a powerful moment that’s only topped by the outro. After “Looking For You,” it’s hard to not get excited for what comes next.
“When We Were Young” follows it up. The smooth cymbal taps perfectly set the stage for the stringy guitar and bouncy bass that follows them. The wavy groove is easy to get lost in, with the signature smooth vocals reinforcing that aesthetic. The nostalgic track finds itself reminiscing on times gone by and the juxtaposition of what one desires when they were young as opposed to later on in life. Lines such as “when we’re young, we live forever. Ain’t nothin’ or noone gonna bring us down. When we’re old we often wish that we could sleep just like we did when we were young.” It makes the track an emotionally tender listen that will inspire nostalgia of days gone by in anyone, even if those days are closer than they may seem.
“Drink To The Future” is another great track that immediately grabs your attention with some free-wheeling guitar plucks before the rest of the instrumentals join in. The bouncy bass compliments the marching drums make the track an easy one to move to and also gives it that Americana charm of a ramblin’ beat. The vocal feature from Tina Jones is electrifying as the force of her voice is felt perfectly as she blows away the power of a guitar solo’s intro with the end of her own solo. With a catchy beat and an incredible feature from Tina Jones, “Drink To The Future” is a song you won’t want to miss.
“Next To You” is an incredible memorable final track. The guitar solo creates an aesthetic that is peaceful and contemplative. The guitar flows like water, keeping an engaging beat that you can sink into. The emotional vocals effortlessly carry the weight of their words, dancing with the instrumentals to comfort the emotional blow they pack in lines such as “And as long as you’re here by my side, the world seems right again. While we wait for night to fall, I know exactly where I am.” These qualities make “Next To You” another unmissable track and the perfect send off for the album.
With emotional and engaging lyrical storytelling and some powerful Americana rock and roll, Mr. Missy has made something special. Each track is memorable in its own way and has a unique personality that makes them only grow on you during repeat listens. Tracks such as “The Story” and “Drink To The Future” wear their ramblin’ Americana inspirations with pride, while others such as “Next To You” focus in on the emotion with a thoughtful acoustic guitar performance. From start to finish, “Looking For You” is an album no rock or Americana fan will want to miss.
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