New CD Review of...
AM
AM
By: Nicole Roberge
AM is a musical melting pot. Living in Oklahoma to New Orleans to eventually LA, his country, bluegrass, rock, pop, folk influences shine through on his debut. AM’s music is intriguing, his versatile sound giving us songs that range from quiet melodies to rock and back again. His lyrics are enhanced by AM’s soothing voice. Opening with “Gone Away,” we are propelled into AM’s warm voice and melodic instrumentation. We then break into, and range from, the catchy “Playing the Game” to the more rock-influenced “Troubled Times” to the quirky “Mainstay.”
“Running Away” is a highlight of the album with his honest and straightforward approach lyrically. Here he sings: ““Did I tell you I knew your name? /but it seems that I’ve lost it/Did I tell you it’s my own game? /This is not your problem/I don’t know if I’m gonna change/Wasting time in another day/I keep running away/even from the good things.” AM has the unique ability to really speak to his listeners through his lyrics. He is not simply singing words, but telling a story, certain that there is someone out there listening. His musicality is genuine, as the instrumentation emulates the lyrics. It is easy to get caught up in a song and only emerge when it is over; it’s remnants still echoing in your head.
A longing for home is captured on both “Wayside” and Home.” On the former, he sings, “It’s hard to come back when you’re far from home…wish I could need you but I walk alone,” and the latter, “I can’t make it alone, I wanna come home…blinded by the city lights, they just got in the way.” There is a sense of urgency in these songs, a grasping for something, and a search where we wonder of the outcome. The CD ends on a quiet note, just the way it started, and brings the album full circle. Here, AM has created a CD for everyone. Everyone can relate and everyone can enjoy it. I haven’t heard such passion and integrity in music in a while, and it is about time someone like AM came around and shared it with us.
For more information on AM and to purchase the CD, visit www.amsounds.com