Lucky
Working Nomad, 2025
9/10
The veteran singer-songwriter Edwin McCain returns with his first LP in 15 years, where soul, rock, and country ideas are present across the 10 heartfelt songs.
“Chasing A Memory” opens with McCain’s familiar voice amid the thumping drums and country-rock ideas that are both gritty and melodic, and “Love Me Or Leave Me Alone” follows with warm acoustic guitar and emotive singing that unfolds with much grace.
“The Cheatin’” lands in the middle and uses gospel nods that builds into a rhythmic and piano fueled good time, while “Salt” finds itself in stirring intimacy via the soft guitar and poetic singing.
Close to the end, “Lucky All The Time” is a playful moment of cautious rock ideas, and “Empire” exits with an upbeat and sing-along friendly finish that uses guitar solos and relevant wordplay for a more muscular tune.
A triumphant return for McCain, there is much diversity to appreciate across his pop-rock formula that is on par with the songs of his heyday.
Travels well with: Duncan Sheik- Claptrap; Collective Soul- Here To Eternity