For Now
Get Loud, 2021
8/10
Christian Glakas is the driving force behind Merciful Heavens, and he’s got Brent Bowman (drums), Isaac Crone (bass), Emily McLeod (vocals), and Augie Gmitter (bass) on board for a brief but very impressive 6 alt-country influenced tracks that comprise For Now.
“Apples::” starts the listen and doesn’t waste anytime making an impression with its crisp drumming, strategic keys and smooth singing in a very retro-folk sort of way, and “Underground” follows with a calm, dreamy delivery that thumps with a stylish sort of atmospheric indie-rock feel that’s a little fuzzy, too.
Packed in the middle are “For Now” and “Where The Rising Sun Will Find You”, where the former welcomes McLeod’s harmony vocals amid gorgeous guitar work from Glakas, while the latter makes good use of acoustic guitar picking and ambience that’s quite in line with today’s indie-folk.
Landing near the end, “Inside Out” flows with some classic rock nods where the clever bass work and expressive singing make this the album highlight, and “Fluid Days” exits the listen with rhythm and melody meeting at a very memorable and timeless intersection.
Glakas made a name for himself as one of the frontmen for Good Looks, and this solo project embraces both personal and political wordplay amid the well thought out song craft and sharp musicianship. At just 6 tunes, this one ends entirely too soon, so let’s hope an LP is in the near future.
Travels well with: Jackson Browne- Downhill From Everywhere; Jason Molina- Eight Gates