Artist: Michael McDermott
Album: Out From Under
Label: Pauper Sky Records
Release Date: 4.28.2018
Michael McDermott is a true original, a guy with a grit-fuelled vocal delivery, fine zinging fretwork and an eye for arresting, story-telling lyrics that often seem to echo his own life experiences. With Out From Under he follows up the success of his 2016 offering, Willow Springs, another release that held the same remarkable mix of aching memories of life, love, loss and ultimate redemption.
McDermott has packed more into his shortish life than many manage in twice or thrice the time on the planet. This guy dabbled in—and was eventually nearly overcome by—a variety of addictions, mixed with organized crime, blew a lauded early career and yet, against the odds, triumphed over it all and resurfaced with optimism, a new family and life in small-town, rural Illinois to produce music that positively pulses with punch and beauty.
In short, look out for McDermott, a wonderful singer-songwriter, part of a hugely important stream of US modern music creativity and invention. I loved Willow Springs and can hardly believe that he has again pushed out the boundaries of music self-fulfilment to deliver a truly great eleven-track release that should be a must for every lover of the singer-songwriter tradition.
—Iain Patience
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