Mike Bones - A Fool For Everyone
From the very first bars of opener 'Today The World Is Worthy Of My Loathing' the comparisons with Dylan are clear to behold.
Mike Strallow grew up on the likes of Cohen and Reed during his formative years in New Jersey, though has subsequently moved to the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. 'A Fool For Everyone' is the follow up to his 2007 debut 'The Sky Behind The Sea' and keeps very much to the same alternative folk template whilst being altogether more accessible.
From the very first bars of opener 'Today The World Is Worthy Of My Loathing' the comparisons with Dylan are clear to behold, a deeply introspective world weary narrative that stands comparison with the great man's latter work. Self-deprecating love song 'A Fool For Everyone' is another delicate piece of work complete with brass-laden instrumentation that eschews Mark Ronson conveyor belt fakeness for genuine feeling and atmosphere.
The only time on this collection of nine songs that the quality control radar dips slightly is on the deceptively titled 'Like A Politician', which is a run of the mill love song about leaving "my love for another one" that hints at Noah And The Whale but ends up more like a beached sea creature.
The second half of the album is particularly strong, led by 'I'm A Decent Man I Kept Repeating' which as the title suggests is all about silencing your doubts by talking to yourself, changing tempo unexpectedly two thirds through like the recording process has been unceremoniously gate-crashed. It's the following track 'What I Have Left' however that is the pinnacle of this album, building to a piano-led crescendo that brings a welcome burst of light and happiness to proceedings.
'Give Up On Guitars' is also worthy of mention, containing some brilliantly dry wit and humour including the smile-inducing couplet "let Bright Eyes die in a room somewhere/you'll never tell us apart". It's the sort of self-effacing lyric that proves it's not all seriousness and drowning your sorrows in the bottom of a bottle.
Mike Bones is clearly a gifted songwriter with a voice that oozes maturity beyond his years. He deftly avoids the trap of padding out this record with needless filler as he defiantly ploughs his own musical furrow with a seldom found finesse.
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