Medd & Shaw – Another Day

Medd & Shaw – Another Day – Album Review

Medd & Shaw?  Sounds like the sequel to the sequel of one of them Fast & Furious movies.

Let the music speak for itself!  When I heard the bass-lines of “Another Day” start up on Medd & Shaw’s new album, all I knew is that I’d wanna hear them no matter what the name of the artist or band would be.  There’s some great stuff in here – listen to the guitar solo happening in the distance of “Another Day” as it finishes off and you’ll know what I mean – there’s a lot of great instincts & a classic approach to songwriting that I think many folks will appreciate.  I really like what’s happening in the backing vocals throughout “Another Day” as well…the vast majority of this song is on genuinely solid ground.  As for the lead vocals…I’m realistic…that’s going to be the point of debate on this opening track for many listeners.  I’ll put it to you like this…such sparklingly clean production can sometimes create almost too much separation in the mix, you know what I mean?  Being a bit more enveloped by the music could go a long way to help the vocals feel more like an integrated part of the song, from my perspective.  Other than that, I can hear some opportunity for a bit more growth in the lead vocals…projecting with a bit more confidence, staying sharp in transition from one part to the next…that kind of thing, but that can all be ironed out.  He can clearly hold a tune, and now it’s all about continually refining his talents like the rest of us have to do in the things that we do.  Overall, their title-track makes a good first impression on ya.

To be completely fair to the lead vocals in Medd & Shaw, some parts, some vibes, some vocal melodies are easier to sing than others, and some are just a more natural fit.  I’d readily acknowledge that what you hear in the opening track is a highly challenging pattern to sing.  “Let It All Fall Down On Me,” by contrast, really felt like it had the right mix and the kind of fluidity that stacks up to a big win.  While they’re going for sounds that’d be close comparisons to the Eagles and what you’d find in Crosby, Stills, Nash (And Young!)…depending on the generation you’re in, you might think a song like “Let It All Fall Down On Me” shares just as much in common with unique Folk-Indie acts like Golden Smog, The Head And The Heart, or even something a little further out there on the fringe, like some Sparklehorse tunes.  That’s a really roundabout way of saying there’s a lot of sincere emotion and sound at work on “Let It All Fall Down On Me.”  There’s such a warm glow to the whole atmosphere of this track…and when combined with the brilliant backing vocals & harmonies…I mean…this is a genuinely special song that I think a lot of people out there won’t just listen to, but end up cherishing as a memorable part of their own soundtrack.  The attention to detail is excellent here, and the songwriting is essentially bulletproof.

For as much as I like “Let It All Fall Down On Me,” I think I might like “I Took The Long Way Home” even more.  What a song!  This is one of those spots where you can’t help acknowledge the real master’s grip they have on their craft…I don’t think there’s a thing about it I’d change.  They’ve done so many things right in the way they’ve approached their music, and a song like “I Took The Long Way Home” shows exactly how solid fundamentals stack up to big victories.  While the weary spirited wisdom beams from the mic, and the guitars make their magic happen in tandem with the piano, the backing vocals and harmonies of Medd & Shaw are genuinely at their best in this tune.  As they exit the hooks, there’s this like…I have no idea what it is to tell you the truth lol…it’s probably a guitar, but it nearly sounds like it’s a trumpet…it just supports the rhythm of this song in such a brilliant way that, even though I can only describe what I’m hearing like a bit of an idiot, it’s something I still had to mention.  It’s the little things, right?  They can make such a massive impact when it comes right down to it.  All-in-all though, “I Took The Long Way Home” is about as perfect as a tune can get…this is a song you can feel right in your soul.

Now…if we’re talkin’ about concept-driven tunes, where a band is aiming for a specific type of sound or vibe, then I think you’ve gotta give Medd & Shaw a lot of credit for how bang-on “Rolling Back The Time” probably is by comparison to what they were trying to create.  Does that make me want to listen to it?  No.  This one’s just not for me, and that’s okay folks…it’s our differences that make the world go ‘round.  What I can tell ya is this – Medd & Shaw have kept their ears close on what matters, and through the quality of their ideas and performance, they give each track the potential to be listened to and loved for its own separate reasons.  There will be a lot of people out there that would dig the laidback, old-school dance-floor rhythm & groove combo on “Rolling Back The Time” – they aimed to create a throwback tune, and that’s exactly what they got here.  Stylistically, it’ll be a hit with some, and others like myself might bristle at it a bit, but I don’t think any of us can deny that they wear this suit of sound very well.

I thought Medd & Shaw were about ready to cover “Landslide” for a moment as “You And Me” began.  I’m sure they’ve heard that comment before by now, given that Another Day came out sometime back towards the start of the year.  In any event, Medd & Shaw will go on to distinguish this track as their own creation as it carries on, and they come out with another really remarkably memorable hook in the chorus.  They seem to have the voice & energy I feel suits the band best back up at the front in the lead again…so maybe that’s part of what creates the peaks and valleys of listening to a record like Another Day.  I always have that trouble when there are multiple singers in a band…I end up finding the sound that I like best, and that usually has a lot to do with what defines the songs I like most too.  And while I maintain that I’m only ever just one person with one opinion, it’s also safe to say that if I listen to music like that, then at least a few other people likely do too.  Anyhow.  “You And Me” is another no-notes situation as far as my ears are concerned, I think Medd & Shaw absolutely nailed this song from start to finish.  At their best, this duo of talent & the ace musicians assisting them are making meaningful music.  Bonus points for creating a song that features the banjo so prominently in such a truly accessible way.

Yeah…there you go, case in-point – as they switch up the vocals again for “Close Your Eyes Goodnight,” I could feel myself resisting the change a little bit each time as I listened.  Don’t get me wrong, they can both sing and hold their own well enough, but I seem to be responding to one voice more than the other as I listen.  Barenaked Ladies, Treble Charger, Goo Goo Dolls…I mean the list goes on and on…I’ve always latched onto one half of the sound in band’s with two singers, and feel like it’s best to be honest about that.  I don’t mind songs like “Close Your Eyes Goodnight,” but I don’t know that I enjoy them as much as I tend to appreciate them, you know what I mean?  Like…context matters too…if “Close Your Eyes Goodnight” was to be featured in a musical somewhere, I’m sure it would be part of a very compelling and emotional scene & be a perfect accompaniment to what the crowd would see.  As it stands on its own here, I appreciate the performance and even the songwriting once again…it might not be my thing, but that doesn’t mean it might not be yours.  What I do really like about “Close Your Eyes Goodnight” is that the craftsmanship really shines in the presentation of this whole song.  I’d advise some caution on the sharp corners of the rhyme scheme…that can come across as less authentic at times to listeners if you’re not too careful…but for the most part, “Close Your Eyes Goodnight” embraces a pretty fluidity.  That harp you’re hearing from Regino Payan is absolutely exquisite to listen to & a great addition here.

While “It’s About Life” shifts things back towards the sound I seem to respond to the most with Medd & Shaw’s vocals in the lead, I felt like I could kind of take or leave this particular tune by comparison to how strong so many of the others have come out.  Again, no real fault to be found in the performance – I think that probably came out about as good as it could have here.  Material-wise, “It’s About Life” felt a little more thin than I wanted it to be I suppose…but don’t mistake saying that for saying there’s nothing worth listening to.  “It’s About Life” has a real highlight solo in it, and the way that this song makes such a significant shift in the sound in such a seamless way for the finale is nothing short of inspiring to listen to – there are many great things about it, up to and including the production & such once again.  For me, I suppose it was like…well…from the moment it started, I knew “It’s About Life” would feature the voice I like more, and I guess I felt like the previous tunes sung by the same dude resonated more concretely.  Again, don’t get me wrong…I’ll happily sit and listen to the golden tones of the guitars and violins, the warmth of the backing vocals & harmonies, the powerfully endearing lead vocals…all that’s good – and the finale will make you wanna stand up and cheer…but even with all that, it’s still a little less balanced as you travel from start to finish, and you’re more likely to end up with pieces of this song you like best.

To be honest, this relationship of being bandmates…this is genuinely fascinating.  From the outside listening in, it seems like each component of this duo needs and values entirely different things when it comes to how they process and create music.  Like, you can hear how wildly different each of Medd & Shaw’s natural styles are from each other, but yet they’ve found a way to bring them together and make it work.  I do think it’s going to create those aforementioned peaks and valleys for many listeners out there and I’m realistic about that, but the flipside of that coin is that there are still many folks out there that will appreciate the variety having two main singers creates.  It’s neat though…somehow they’ve met in the middle of two totally different ways of thinking about music, and they’re finding success.  You have to wonder if they have their own preferences of course…I’m sure they do, because we all would – but I get the sense in the way they’ve divided up the time in the center of the spotlight that they’re genuinely supportive of each other in what they do, and that a win for either singer is a win for the band as it should be.  Anyhow.  I’m beating around the bush here.  I didn’t love “Love Is The Scenic Route Of Life” and I guess I should just get that out there for the record.  A little too flashy or too much flair in a more noticeably theatrical direction…it’s more of a performance-based piece that is rooted in the art of making music, but doesn’t really generate the kind of memorable moments that’ll bring people back.

There’s a couple of piano players and a keyboardist on this record, and I’m not entirely sure who shows up where, but make no mistake, they’ve greatly contributed to this album overall.  Especially in times where you end up questioning the strength of this or that along the way in critiquing a song, it’s nice to know there are some things that end up being a consistently positive element like the piano has been to these songs on Another Day.  “When The Wind Blows” took a few spins to grow on me…it wasn’t quite the instant reaction I had like when I was listening to cuts like “Let It All Fall Down On Me” or “I Took The Long Way Home” earlier on, but I felt like I came around to appreciate it enough.  I like how the nostalgia, mood, and emotions drift dreamily along in the lyricism while you listen to this track…the imagery is great, and through the verses, you’ll find some exceptional words penned to this tune.  They go for creating a memorable, sensory feeling here…a moment in time that feels familiar and new all at the very same time…and they end up succeeding brilliantly.  I wasn’t always as sure about “When The Wind Blows” on those first tours through the album, but I mean…c’mon…that hook is delivered spot-on, and over time, the quaint & humble feelings & grounded perspective creates an irresistible specialness.

If I’m not mistaken, the duo expands into three for “Diamond Eyes,” which features the vocals of Juan Pablo Palencia to accentuate the Latin-inspired vibes of the music from the microphone.  Again, to me, this is a great example of having a vision for a specific sound and going for it – and even more to the point, the fact that Medd & Shaw chose to take more of a supporting role in this track really speaks to the duo’s willingness to do the right thing for the song itself, and I totally respect that.  If you’re a regular reader of these pages of ours, you’ve probably seen me rant plenty of times about someone not doing what their song is calling out for them to do – and “Diamond Eyes” proves my point by showing how to go about it correctly.  This is commitment to the creation in action…that’s what you’re hearing on “Diamond Eyes” – doing the right things for the material always gives it the best shot at being heard.  Palencia delivers on his end of the bargain, and I like that.  Did Another Day need a third singer in the mix or another noticeable switch in sound yet again?  We can probably have a debate about some of that I’m sure.  Results are results though y’all…”Diamond Eyes” came out as well-balanced as the best of their tunes, delivers a tangibly diverse & passionate sound that works, and a fully flawless performance.

Firing-up that Santana-esque flavor, “Money Don’t Buy Me Love” gently pulses out the entertainment towards ya, backed by sensational guitar tones and a smooth rhythm & flow.  Accented by highlights of backing vocals providing emphasis and enhancing the melody, there’s a very traditional script to a song like this, and they’re following it closely.  Somewhere between the Smash Mouth take on this sound and the way it began with Santana, “Money Don’t Buy Me Love” is kind of like what you’d get if you combined “Walkin’ On The Sun” and “Oyo Como Va” together somehow.  Gonna continue to advise caution on being too rigid with the rhyme scheme in the lyrics – to me, it’s always a sign that someone is saying something in a more filtered type of way, you know what I mean?  It’s hard to find the perfect words we want all the time, but that’s what separates the good writers from the great – finding that right combination that satisfies what we need phonetically in a song without compromising what you really want to say.  When you’ve found the right balance, it all sounds natural.  When you haven’t, it sounds like the rhyme is a bit too obvious.  It’s a fine line to walk, and experience, trial & error are the only way to work out the kinks.  It takes time.  Aside from that though, I think it’s one of the better performances from this side of the lead vocals in Medd & Shaw, and the song has a lot of character to it.

Oooooooooo!  What’s THIS?  Another solid gem to be found, right before Another Day is finished?  Juan Pablo makes another appearance as the lead vocalist featured on “Rhayne,” and there’s a mighty good chance that at least a few folks out there could even come away with this being their favorite track on the whole record.  I really like it myself too.  The guitar on this song is outstanding.  The vocals are great.  The ideas are exceptional, the atmosphere is familiar but inviting…the performance continually pulls you in close to listen…the personality in their combination of talents really shines from the lefts to the rights on this final song.  Yeah…I mean…Medd & Shaw might just want to consider becoming Medd & Shaw & Palencia considering how well this collaboration has gone between them in these songs featuring Juan Pablo as their lead singer.  Fun fact too – “Rhayne” has set the record for the world’s longest fade-out on a recording – isn’t that cool?  Okay…maybe that’s not totally true – but you will notice it is LENGTHY.  What you also might notice is how little you mind…it’s almost like as long as we can still hear “Rhayne” a little bit, that’s always going to be way better than not hearing it at all, you feel me?  While it’s true and fair to say that “Rhayne” has a bit of that traditional and expected lounge act type of sound to it, which does make it feel like many songs you’ve heard in a way, you can’t argue against execution that is this professional, committed, and exceptional.  They’ve left no stone unturned here at the end of their new album, provided additional depth and diversity to their lineup with the inclusion of Juan Pablo on the mic, and given their audience every reason to reach over and push the repeat button for another spin.

Find out more about Medd & Shaw from their official website at:  http://www.meddandshaw.com

THIS LINE OF TEXT IS INVISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE, as proven daily by thousands of people that read our pages.  If you’re one of the rare folks that can actually see this message, and you’re curious about how to get YOUR MUSIC featured on our site, by all means click here to learn more about doing exactly that!