“what I imagine seeing the Dead at one of those Acid Test shows was like”
-Brian Meccia of Quiet Ocean
Music for fans of:
Dawes, Wilco, George Harrison, Neil Young, Grateful Dead, Dire Straits, Black Sabbath, Joy Division…
The latest press from Blank Newspaper’s Lee Zimmerman:
McLaughlin is a remarkably prolific individual. A singer-songwriter in his own right, he’s also the touring drummer for Cruz Contreras, a session player with countless others and a highly capable soundman on the side. With this, his first solo album, he demonstrates a remarkable gift for writing durable melodies and playing every instrument, as well (with the assistance of Jake Smith on rhythm guitar and mellotron on the [first] track). Leadoff track “Enough” belies its title, offering a full throttle of rock ‘n’ roll revelry. The title track and “Impossible Stealing” take the music into more ethereal space, each a sprawling tour de force that spirals into astral realms. As the album progresses, so does the diversity and dynamicism, from the bluesy stride of “If You Really, Really Love Me” to the sway and savvy of “Sortin’ the Stakes” and “Forever You” and ultimately the casual serenade maintained in “Maze.” McLaughlin’s affection for vintage music is obvious, and as a result, all of these melodies come across as both moving and memorable. It’s a credit to his creativity that he’s managed to come up with such a solid debut. One can only anticipate what’s certain to follow.
Ben McLaughlin offers rock music that sounds like an electrified awakening earned within a psychedelic-folk odyssey.
At his core, McLaughlin is a songwriter, tethered to the ethers as much as his human vessel; an audible translator from his small corner of the universe. Sewn throughout his newest batch of songs, is the mourning of the inevitable winds of change through Self and family structures, the walking hand-in-hand with one’s own inner child, and at the end of it all, coming to a place of peace with how things are Now.
A multi-instrumentalist and audio engineer, he self-produces the songs he has written within the meditative state, weaving together melodic thoughts of self- and environmental-dissection with organic production. Reminiscent of a time when vinyl was king, the final results extends an open hand to the listener to experience an authenticity that allows them to lovingly transcend to their own higher essence.
Thanks for Being you and for working hard in this lifetime. Here’s my direct contact in case you’d like to talk about music, life, work or how to make the world a better place together.
