DetroitAtHome.com Review of the record!
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Mike Vasas and the Beats of Burden Apparently, Detroit is a hot bed for solid acts who make good music. This is something I am quickly realizing each time I pop in a record from a band out of the Motor City. The latest – Mike Vasas and the Beasts of Burden and their self titled record. Vasas and company, with their self titled release, really showcases some down home, bluesy, rootsy, Midwest Americana through eleven tracks.
Vasas combines a lot of different guitar looks with a wide vocal range, along with some other instruments, like piano and harmonica to craft his sound. New Regime is a song I like particularly well because it is one of the more rocking songs of the outing, but still a song like Bread Beard Read has its charm as well. This song is one of the more Americana sounding tracks, lending itself to the more roots/blues side of things. One Day is a smart, introspective look into Vasas' songwriting abilities, and it is also a song that displays his ability to storytell through his music, which is really something that he does throughout this self titled album, but I think it is most evident here. Another strong track, and possibly the best vocal track on the entire record is Selfish Circles. It is also one of the more heartfelt tracks on the album. That's sounds odd to me because I'm sure that all of these songs are very heartfelt since that seems to be what type of songwriter Vasas is, but still. Oddly enough, I think my favorite song on the record is the albums closing track, Shells, clocking in at over ten minutes. This finds Vasas flexing the muscles of his endearing voice, amidst a collage of piano, synth, etc. the entire song is ambient and lofty, and I can help but wonder if they have played this song live, because I sure it would go over pretty well.
One thing is for sure – Mike Vasas has a great voice. It is pretty obvious that in order to succeed in playing this style of music, you need a strong vocalist, and Vasas sure is one of them. I think I would happy with just Vasas singing with an acoustic guitar, but I'll take this release too. Vasas and the Beasts of Burden have to be one of the more quality indie/folk acts I have heard from Detroit, and believe you me; I have sure heard my share.
Mike Vasas and the Beats of Burden Apparently, Detroit is a hot bed for solid acts who make good music. This is something I am quickly realizing each time I pop in a record from a band out of the Motor City. The latest – Mike Vasas and the Beasts of Burden and their self titled record. Vasas and company, with their self titled release, really showcases some down home, bluesy, rootsy, Midwest Americana through eleven tracks.
Vasas combines a lot of different guitar looks with a wide vocal range, along with some other instruments, like piano and harmonica to craft his sound. New Regime is a song I like particularly well because it is one of the more rocking songs of the outing, but still a song like Bread Beard Read has its charm as well. This song is one of the more Americana sounding tracks, lending itself to the more roots/blues side of things. One Day is a smart, introspective look into Vasas' songwriting abilities, and it is also a song that displays his ability to storytell through his music, which is really something that he does throughout this self titled album, but I think it is most evident here. Another strong track, and possibly the best vocal track on the entire record is Selfish Circles. It is also one of the more heartfelt tracks on the album. That's sounds odd to me because I'm sure that all of these songs are very heartfelt since that seems to be what type of songwriter Vasas is, but still. Oddly enough, I think my favorite song on the record is the albums closing track, Shells, clocking in at over ten minutes. This finds Vasas flexing the muscles of his endearing voice, amidst a collage of piano, synth, etc. the entire song is ambient and lofty, and I can help but wonder if they have played this song live, because I sure it would go over pretty well.
One thing is for sure – Mike Vasas has a great voice. It is pretty obvious that in order to succeed in playing this style of music, you need a strong vocalist, and Vasas sure is one of them. I think I would happy with just Vasas singing with an acoustic guitar, but I'll take this release too. Vasas and the Beasts of Burden have to be one of the more quality indie/folk acts I have heard from Detroit, and believe you me; I have sure heard my share.
posted by Mike Vasas at 9:52 PM
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