{"id":16648,"date":"2013-05-14T14:35:49","date_gmt":"2013-05-14T22:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/?p=16648"},"modified":"2013-05-21T09:40:44","modified_gmt":"2013-05-21T17:40:44","slug":"a-california-pop-masterpiece-mikal-cronins-mcii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/2013-05\/a-california-pop-masterpiece-mikal-cronins-mcii\/","title":{"rendered":"A California Pop Masterpiece: Mikal Cronin’s “MCII”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MCII\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you haven’t heard the voice of this beehive already, you will soon be hearing a big buzz around Mikal Cronin’s<\/strong> second album entitled MCII <\/strong>(on Merge Records<\/strong>).\u00a0 Starting right now.\u00a0 MCII<\/strong> was released last week and is one of the freshest, most consistently-enjoyable albums of 2013, and is on constant repeat at Chez Lefort<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Cronin<\/strong>, who may be best known as the best-thing-about Ty Segall’s<\/strong> fuzz-laden band, grew up in Laguna Beach and all of its surroundings.\u00a0 So it’s not surprising that sophisticated, California-infused power-pop songs drip off him like saltwater onto the shore after a surf-session.\u00a0 To get a feel for MCII <\/strong>musically, conjure an album that combines the melodic acumen of Elliott Smith<\/strong>, <\/strong>The Pixies<\/strong> (check out the Velouria<\/strong> <\/em>in Cronin’s Turn Away<\/strong><\/em>), R.E.M.,\u00a0<\/strong>Wilco<\/strong>, and even Tom Petty<\/strong>, with Beach Boys<\/strong>-caliber vocals and harmony arrangements.\u00a0 Add to that the grit and aggression of Husker Du\/Sugar <\/strong>and you’ve got the picture.\u00a0\u00a0 Don’t get us wrong; this is no nostalgia-addled homage but instead a bright, vibrant new twist on those influences.\u00a0 The music is deceptively simple, but closer scrutiny reveals chord changes and vocal and string arrangements that belie Cronin’s<\/strong> BFA degree in music (though not in a studied way).\u00a0 There’s something for everyone here:\u00a0 power-pop jangle, rockers, and even a piano ballad (the closing masterpiece, Piano Mantra<\/em><\/strong>) on which Cronin<\/strong> limns Lennon<\/strong> and Tweedy<\/strong> in a heartrending performance.\u00a0 With a few notable exceptions, Cronin played all the instruments on the album, and yet the album comes off as a full-band project full of life.\u00a0 There’s enough variety, dynamism and complexity for all.<\/p>\n

Thematically<\/strong>, Cronin<\/strong> has matched his sunny-sounding music with darker lyrics that speak of self-doubt, the search and coming-of-age.\u00a0 At 27, Cronin<\/strong> is closer to 30 than 20, and naturally seems to be searching to find his proper place in the maturing world and its manifold relationships.\u00a0 There is a constant tension and resolve in the album’s lyrics.\u00a0 On Weight<\/strong><\/em> “I\u2019ve been starting over for a long time, I\u2019m not ready for another day I fail at feeling new” is followed by “No, be bolder, golden light for miles.”\u00a0 On Shout It Ou<\/strong><\/em>t, “I\u2019m pretty good at making things harder to see, And turning problems back to me, It\u2019s not the way I want to be” is followed by “But I\u2019ve been thinking \u2019bout that time you came around, And took my head up off the ground, Now that\u2019s a place I want to be.”\u00a0 On Piano Mantra<\/strong><\/em>, “A fine line is crossed, no way back over, A long time, I\u2019m lost, I can\u2019t see over” is followed by the album’s closing couplet: “I\u2019m coming back home, Sink my roots and I\u2019ll be gold, Your open arms are giving me hope.”<\/p>\n

As mentioned, Cronin<\/strong> plays every instrument and handles all vocals on MCII<\/strong>, with the exception of guest appearances by K. Dylan Edrich<\/strong> (viola and violin on Peace of Mind<\/strong> <\/em>and Change<\/strong><\/em>), Charles Moothart<\/strong> (drums on Change<\/strong><\/em> and Turn Away<\/strong><\/em>), Petey Dammit<\/strong> (slide guitar on Peace of Mind<\/strong><\/em>, and Ty Segall<\/strong> (guest guitar–his best use as best we can tell<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

You can listen to Weight,<\/strong><\/em> Shout It Out<\/strong><\/em> and Piano Mantra<\/strong><\/em> below to get a feel for MCII<\/strong>.\u00a0 His current tour dates are listed at bottom.<\/p>\n

We see a bright future for Cronin and can’t wait for MCIII<\/strong>, MCIV<\/strong> and (naturally) MC5<\/strong>.\u00a0 Do yourselves a favor and go stream and buy MCII<\/strong> now HERE<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n

Album highlights<\/strong>:\u00a0 Peace of Mind, Change, Weight, Turn Away<\/strong><\/em>, and Piano Mantra<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n