“Fifteen Over Six” by Gregory McKillop
Also known as the chiptune artist FUUNE, Gregory McKillop is one of the young people of our time making good ol’ folk music. This full length album is a compilation of pre-released music remastered by @flowerpotrecords.
At first, this album strikes the folk chord hard with a 6/8 tune that resembles that of an irish drinking song with “Early Morning Voice.” The second track, “The Put Down” is just the opposite. Though, still in 6/8, it is a much calmer and morose in tone, starting with light humming and strumming. McKillop’s nasally tone resonates with the likes of Andrew Jordan of Matchbook Romance and Isabella Bunny Bennett of Steam Powered Giraffe.
The album takes a turn with the upbeat “Worcester Song.” Even with the exciting strumming pattern of this track, McKillop’s nasally singing starts up a little too abrasive and later mellows out to a much more listenable tone. The high point of this track is the sudden tempo change about three quarters of the way through. “The Second Best Day Ever” works as a segway back to the slow tempo feel in the beginning of the album. With that said, this song is a bit of educated commentary on people and self analyzation. Lyrics state, “...and everyone can relate to whether or not you’re straight or white or have rent to pay...”
The quick “My New Friend Pat” has some harmonies that make for good variety of vocal choices. The album continues with the same typical folk tunes with little variation. With that said, it is obvious that one can hear the desperation in McKillop’s voice, keeping the lister’s attention.
Perhaps the most self-aware moments of the album are McKillop’s lyrics on the track “This Song Is Not About My Emotions, It’s About The American Health Care System.” His lyrics state, “It’s time to let some other punk kid scream about every single thing he believes like it was God...” This, along with other lyrics in past songs regarding whether or not his friends like his music just because they're his friends, informs listeners that McKillop knows where he stands in the music world; he makes it a point to talk about his insecurities, which is an absolute must in this style of music.
The female vocal harmonies on “She Doesn’t Want You To Know That She Is An Inferno” can use a lot of work. The harmonies are flat and the unisons are often not in tune with each other. Again, these are things with which many folk singers can get away. However, if this work wants to be regarded as a decent contender against other folk artists, these vocals will need some attention. The few moments where the female voice sings solo are actually quite nice and should be integrated more throughout McKillop’s work.
The piano/trumpet intro in “Back Alley Buskar Ballad” are a refreshing change from the tired guitar strums from the previous eleven tracks. This song has the most potential as far as creating a good sound that follows McKillop’s waling voice.
On the subject of McKillop’s voice, it is perhaps most portrayed on the track “Thanksgiving.” Along with some electric guitar, this song shows McKillop’s versatility with his voice by showing different textures that, though may not be vocally healthy, make a lasting impression among the earlier more tame tracks.
The album ends with tracks “Science” and “Songs So Bad.” The latter of the two is the exact same chord progression as “Gravity” by John Mayer, which unfortunately leaves listeners a little let down. The track “Science” might have been a better way to end the album simply because it introduces an idea, develops it, and climaxes appropriately.
Given that this is a compilation album rather than conceptual, the unfocused flow of the album is excusable. This is because the first third of the album does not serve the work as it should. Had the album started from “My New Friend Pat,” the album would have had a much better flow, not tiring out the listener with too many slow songs. Even though this album seems tired in the beginning, the last third redeems the work as a whole. Songs like “Back Alley Buskar Ballad,” “Thanksgiving,” and “Science” really flirt with what McKillop can do. Hopefully, this flirtation turns into a full on relationship with the magic that can happen if McKillop focuses his energy in the right ways.
jacobvanloon
janainaart
titsay
izzy806
origamiaround
