The Nashville Feed

The day that Michael Logen (MySpace) dropped off his new album for me to review, I got home from work at 5:30. By 7:30, I had already listened to it three times.

Michael's new album is titled "Things I Failed to Mention" - but I can't think of one thing he failed to mention here. Logen is a true poet, not only lyrically, but musically. There is something that he and his songs understand about sound and silence and the way that they can meet, embrace, and pull apart again to convey meaning - not only with music and words, but with the empty spaces of breath and silence.

If there is such a thing as a thoughtful melody, Logen has created it. He opens with one in the first track, and from there entices the listener down a path of true things - true emotions, true questions, and any other true thing that happens to be on the way.

Even though it's a thoughtful and poetic album, don't think it's any kind of wus. It still knows how to carry a beat, and even how to rock a little. Tracks like "Should I," "Yesterday Today Again," and "Waiting for It" are nicely assertive, and almost edgy.

The record, in general, lacks pretension. It's a balanced blend of quiet, pop, and rock, love, hope, and brooding. It doesn't ask you to take it for anything other than it is - exposed heart and mind, exposed lyrics and melodies. It shows up at your front door at three a.m., soaking wet, and asks once, nicely, to be let in.

Personally, I couldn't resist.

The CD is available now at CDBaby and iTunes. The CD Release party is this Thursday, April 12, at 12th and Porter.

What: Michael Logen CD Release Party
Where: 12th and Porter
When: Thursday, April 12, 8:30 p.m. (how convenient! you can go after the Nashville Feed Acoustic Live show!)
Cost: 5 bucks
Treats for you: a special guest! matchbox twenty (MySpace) guitarist Kyle Cook will be joining the party

Technorati Tags: 12th and Porter, albums, live music, michael logen, Nashville, songwriters, reviews