Rascality
Saustex, 2020
9/10
If you were strictly looking at the song titles of San Antonio, Texas resident Harvey McLaughli’s work, you might not think the singer-songwriter takes himself that seriously, but there’s little doubt that his nostalgic brand of rock’n’roll is seriously memorable on this sophomore album.
“Ghosts On Mars” starts the album with lively piano rock as McLaughlin’s soulful pipes steer the festive opener, and “I Was A Teenage Yeti” follows with an equally energetic display of rootsy inspired rock’n’roll that will get your body moving and your spirits soaring.
As we get closer to the middle, “Ghastly Graham Ingels” moves swiftly with melodic singing that immediately invites a sing-along, while “Ping’s Chinese Restaurant” offers a retro setting where a sax solo from Leila Louise Henley leaves an impression. “Proudfoot”, one of the album’s best, then finds a calmer place to reside, where McLaughlin’s versatile pipes shine amid a reflective climate that touches on R&B.
Near the end, the key acrobatics and frisky percussion of “The Amazing Mole Boy” complements McLaughlin’s incredible vocal delivery, and “Coney Island Waltz” exits the listen with gospel influenced backing vocals as grit and power meet at a very mature intersection.
Certainly an old soul trapped in a young 30’s body, McLaughlin draws parallels to a more modern Jerry Lee Lewis, Randy Newman or Warren Zevon, and he’s clearly having a hell of a time doing it, just as we are listening to it.
Travels well with: The Beaumonts- This Is Austin; Hickoids- All The World’s A Dressing Room: Live In L.A. 08.24.2018