CD Review of Hey La Hey by Michael McDermott
Michael McDermott: Hey La Hey
Recommended if you like
Bruce Springsteen, John Hiatt,
Marc Cohn
Label
Pauper Sky Records
Michael McDermott:
Hey La Hey

Reviewed by Mike Farley

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M
ichael McDermott is one of many roots rock artists who have managed to fly mostly under the radar, despite his music’s clear universal appeal. McDermott demonstrates that appeal more than ever on his latest, Hey Lay Hey, with a stunning batch of songs that, as he claims in the press notes, are "an incantation to hope, love and new beginnings." It doesn’t really matter what topic McDermott writes about, though, because he has this knack for painting a picture by taking human emotions and experience and putting them into song. It’s something many songwriters can do, but it’s a gift to do it as well as McDermott does. Add to that his trademark gravel-tinged voice, and you’ve got what could be Americana gold. You might think of Springsteen or Hiatt when you hear McDermott, but his voice is distinctive enough to stand on its own.

The album kicks off with the boppy piano-driven ditty "So Am I," a track that also closes the album in a darker, more stripped-down (and just as strong) reprise. Surprisingly, the second song features the lead vocals of Kate York, and while she has a beautiful voice akin to Mindy Smith, it’s curious why McDermott would put a song he doesn’t sing so early in the set. Then again, it’s one of the best songs here. McDermott has hooks coming at you from everywhere, and two of the catchiest are "I Wanna Know Why" and "The Great American Novel," as well as the Springsteen-esque "Dream Come True." And while he’s as compelling as any artist you’ll ever hear when it’s just him the piano, as on "Carry Your Cross," the best track of all is the quirky, alt-pop title track.

It doesn’t even make sense to wonder why a guy like McDermott is not an international superstar, because the music industry has changed drastically, to the point where logic no longer applies. The truth is, the people who love great songs manage to find artists like this, and McDermott does have his share of diehard followers. And Hey La Hey, which may be his best work yet, is sure to please those diehards – and hopefully many more who will hear him for the first time.

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