Conceived and recorded as a sort of therapy to help cope
with adjusting to life post-college, an insuing 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 LP. Fans can take heart, this isn’t
a 'vanity project' or half-baked endeavor - Mikal’s 2011 solo
debut is fully realized, cohesive and beautiful, with themes that
are as personal as they are universal; questioning your future,
accepting your past and living in the moment.
Taking influences such as late sixties Del Shannon and The
Everly Brothers and filtering them through his own mutant
California fuzz, Mikal deftly explores his singer/songwriter side
that at moments feels like a punk Harry Nilsson or Curt Boettcher
that balances sweet melodies & chords with chunky,
psychedelic guitar freak-outs. Don’t let the opening Beach
Boys-ian harmonies of 'Is It 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 guests like John Dwyer of
The Oh-Sees, you can be positive you’re in for something
special. Once those guitars kick in, and you hit that first
transcendent chorus, you’ll be hooked and anxiously awaiting
what comes next.
