Mike Hale- Lives Like Mine (Suburban Home Rec)
Mike Hale may be a new name to most people, but there's a good chance you've heard his voice before in his previous incarnations Gunmoll or In The Red. Formerly a Gainesville, Florida resident, after Gunmoll disbanded he headed to LA and shortly after that began In The Red. With this solo disc, Mike has decided to leave the 'normal' life behind and pursue his life long passion of playing music by living on the road, touring for gas money, playing his songs to any ear willing to listen.
Though his work with full bands has always been on the harder, louder side of the spectrum, 'Lives Like Mine' is a very stripped down approach to music, utilizing Hale's piano and acoustic guitar to weave you in and out of his stories. Though there are more singer songwriters out there than ever, few can write a song with the sort of conviction, memorability and forthrightness Hale can.
Parallels being drawn toward Rocky Votolato, Matt Pryor or Chris Wollard, this is the type of disc that takes years of experience to be able to write and contains the kind of undeniable sincerity few can parallel. Truly beautiful music.
