Mikal Cronin

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4...according to our Mike on Thu 22 Sep, 2011.

This may be Mikal Cronin's debut solo album but he's already made some pretty influential friends as a member of the Moonhearts - Ty Segall is twiddling knobs and John Dwyer even pitches in with a little bit of jazz-rock fusion flute playing. You've gotta say fair enough, don't you. This album kicks off with some Beach Boys style a capella harmonies but they're a bit deceptive as after that we're much more on a straight garage rock tip. This guy's quite a formidable songwriter, though, and you can see how he's picked up such high profile admirers so quickly. 'Apathy' is a totally infectious post-grunge stomper that's taking me right back to the early '90s. To be honest given the personnel I was expecting this to be more garagey but although there's a definite In The Red-style fuzz over everything the songs are the stars here, with really bright and confident melodies bringing to mind the likes of Guided By Voices or sometimes even Teenage Fanclub. The consistency is high throughout, too. Just great pop songs under a film of greasy scuzz. Quite a discovery. It wouldn't surprise me if we're hearing a lot more about this man in the future.

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Conceived and recorded as a sort of therapy to help cope with adjusting to post-college life, an ensuing break-up and geographic isolation Mikal Cronin steps momentarily away from the rhythm section of Orange County surf-punk bashers, The Moonhearts with his debut solo album. Fans can take heart, this isn't a 'vanity project' or half-baked endeavour - Mikal's solo debut is fully realized, cohesive and beautiful. With themes that are personal as they are universal; questioning the future, accepting the past and living in the moment. Taking influences such as the late sixties Del Shannon and The Everly Brothers and filtering them through his own mutant Californian fuzz, Mikal deftly explores his singer-songwriter side that at moments feel like a punk Harry Nilsson or Curt Boettcher - balancing sweet melodies and chords with chunky, psychedelic guitar freakouts. Don't let the opening Beach Boys harmonies of 'It's Alright?' fool you into thinking this record can be easily pinned down. With long time friend and collaborator, Ty Segall producing, Eric Bauer (Ty Segall, Royal Baths) running the tape machine and guest like John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees, you can be sure you're in for something special. Once those guitars kick in, and you hit the first transcendent chorus, you'll be hooked....

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