Doug McCurry and the Verticals II

Doug McCurry and the Verticals II

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Doug-McCurry-Verticals-II/dp/B079Z2SC88

Doug McCurry’s new full-length album – Doug McCurry & The Verticals II, is the follow up to his previous album which now serves as part one of this saga of sorts. There’s nothing this Pop artist hasn’t done or can’t do when it comes to music, and he continues to prove that as his career forges on. The album begins with one of the best songs on the album in the shape of “She’s Running” with its 90s alternative rock stylings. And what a way to kick off a smoking album of well-crafted tracks. It’s a clear choice for a single, as most lead off tracks are. It’s almost worth the price of admission, it’s so good.

I love the next track, “Pretty Eyes On Fire” because it brings out the down and dirty grooves McCurry is best known for. This track and a few others sound Tom Petty speed and that’s just right for Doug McCurry, as he writes integral songs that carry a radio-friendly sound. “Precious Rose” is another animal, it’s a beast of a ballad, of which there are at least a few on Doug McCurry & The Verticals II. This isn’t just a sappy song, it’s a powerful and heartfelt piece of music for which McCurry is always reliable for pumping out. Not enough can be said about how good the song is from front to back.

There’s no shortage of great quality songs here with “Sugar & Lies” delivering one of the highlights on the album. The dreamiest song on the album is right here, as it begins to peak very hard. It’s not easy to believe this track only clocks in at 3:29, because it’s a totally epic song that seems to go on forever. Don’t miss this monster track, it’s a stand out song if there are any. “Beautiful Pain” is another slow point with a brooding track in which McCurry does some of his best singing on the album.

But the record takes a turn for even better territory on “Bossa Nova 4-2” with McCurry showing another side to his songwriting skills. This is the jazzy part of the album where the mood takes over and you just ride it out into the next song, “That Josephine” which also has a tight groove but in a sassy rocking and lyrically very funny way. It’s a lot of fun at this point, and that makes way for the mystifying “Devils & Crosses.” Again, McCurry shows why he’s still doing music, with a haunting track that helps complete the album. It also gives him a chance to dazzle on the acoustic guitar.

An album like this isn’t always knocking at the door, it has just about everything. It closes with a couple of more marvelous tracks with “No One Recalls Gary” being the first, and it’s a unique singer/songwriter track with a story that sounds worth looking more into. It’s undeniably good, as are the rest of the tracks as well as the note he goes out on with the very folkish, “Floating On The Wind.” This is another great album by Doug McCurry, which is putting it mildly.

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/63BR5kbTACEzCvuDYUOjXf

Michael Rand