Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

I've discovered that the Chicago-based singer/songwriter's back catalogue seems to be packed with winners. This is Michael's seventh album and mixes Americana, folk, roots and rock together to find a sound all his own that makes a few nods here and there to Springsteen and Cockburn but maintains its own identity. Michael's songwriting has a sprinkling of redemptive vocabulary throughout it and yet he remains edgy throughout. So "Hellfire In The Holyland" explodes with brittle guitars and descriptive throbbing lyrical anger. "Dance With Me" has a thunderous groove and one of those hooky choruses that draws the listener in. Then there are lighter moments on "Baby I" and "Hold Back A River" where his knacks for observation and melody are coupled together to great effect. Every time I place one of his albums in my CD player I'm struck by what a great wealth of creativity springs up from McDermott's pen and vocal chords. 'Ashes' simply sends me back to the internet to try and track down more releases from earlier in his career.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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