Posted by: Cobra
Released on the 16th of September, the debut EP from up-and-comer James McNair, Hangovers and Heartbreak introduces a young singer-songwriter with a lot of talent.
Included on the EP are six tracks from a very unique voice with a great new sound and a strong original style. Starting off the album is “The Texas in Me,” a song discussing his roots and exploring how where we come from shapes who we are. The song revolves around his grandfather who “grew up in Brownsville raised up on dirt floors” but no matter where he’s gone to make his way in the world, he remains strong saying “that’s just the Texas in me.”
Included on the EP are six tracks from a very unique voice with a great new sound and a strong original style. Starting off the album is “The Texas in Me,” a song discussing his roots and exploring how where we come from shapes who we are. The song revolves around his grandfather who “grew up in Brownsville raised up on dirt floors” but no matter where he’s gone to make his way in the world, he remains strong saying “that’s just the Texas in me.”
The only track which I could not find myself connecting with was “Tin Roof.” I found the song slightly clichéd. While I appreciate the sentiment and the feelings expressed, the analogies and metaphors used here have worn thin over the past few years. It’s the shortest song on the collection, so it doesn’t over-indulge. And every artist is entitled to a song like this now and again, so it's difficult to be harsh when the rest of the correction is remarkably solid and the one track doesn’t detract from the rest of the EP as a whole.
Also on the album is a track titled “Young and Drunk.” Rather than spending its time in the present getting drunk, the song reminisces about youth, being young and getting and drunk. It’s a theme that’s been done before, but McNair’s song feels original. It never feels indulgent or overdone. Songs come from memories and a lot of people spend their youth in these ways.
The real highlights of the collection are tracks four and five, the title track and “Lonely Lost Loving You.” In the title track, the singer wakes up wondering what has happened the night before as he finds an empty whiskey bottle and a leaving note. The lack of memory is not glorified as something to be laughed at and pieced together, but instead as an admission of a problem that has driven away those close to the singer. The tone and the music are wonderfully subdued, and the sound of regret in McNair’s voice as he sings that he will still pour himself another glass, realizing “all that I’ve been having lately are hangovers and heartbreak.”
The tempo picks up in “Lonely Lost Loving You.” Again, it revolves around a well-known theme with a singer hiding the loneliness he feels at having been left while privately admitting the pain. But once again, McNair gives an original voice to the song, wishing his love the best even as he continues to admit that he’s still in love with her.
The final track on the EP is “Leave You Alone” which features Summer Overstreet as the second half of a duet. Overstreet’s voice compliments McNair’s voice wonderfully. In the song, two former lovers both try to find ways to move on from the other, though neither one has the power to leave the other in the past.
I was very impressed with McNair’s debut EP. There’re some great songs here, and McNair’s voice, as I’ve mentioned, is unique, so he never sounds the slightest bit generic. I’ll look forward to seeing what McNair has to offer in the future.
Also on the album is a track titled “Young and Drunk.” Rather than spending its time in the present getting drunk, the song reminisces about youth, being young and getting and drunk. It’s a theme that’s been done before, but McNair’s song feels original. It never feels indulgent or overdone. Songs come from memories and a lot of people spend their youth in these ways.
The real highlights of the collection are tracks four and five, the title track and “Lonely Lost Loving You.” In the title track, the singer wakes up wondering what has happened the night before as he finds an empty whiskey bottle and a leaving note. The lack of memory is not glorified as something to be laughed at and pieced together, but instead as an admission of a problem that has driven away those close to the singer. The tone and the music are wonderfully subdued, and the sound of regret in McNair’s voice as he sings that he will still pour himself another glass, realizing “all that I’ve been having lately are hangovers and heartbreak.”
The tempo picks up in “Lonely Lost Loving You.” Again, it revolves around a well-known theme with a singer hiding the loneliness he feels at having been left while privately admitting the pain. But once again, McNair gives an original voice to the song, wishing his love the best even as he continues to admit that he’s still in love with her.
The final track on the EP is “Leave You Alone” which features Summer Overstreet as the second half of a duet. Overstreet’s voice compliments McNair’s voice wonderfully. In the song, two former lovers both try to find ways to move on from the other, though neither one has the power to leave the other in the past.
I was very impressed with McNair’s debut EP. There’re some great songs here, and McNair’s voice, as I’ve mentioned, is unique, so he never sounds the slightest bit generic. I’ll look forward to seeing what McNair has to offer in the future.
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