If you're looking for a record that feels less like a polished product and more like a heart-to-heart with an old friend over a round of drinks, then Morgans Mill have delivered. The brainchild of Dylan Young and AJ Hawkins, this outfit has been steadily building a buzz in Nashville, blending the deep-fried grit of Southern rock with the storytelling finesse of classic country.
Their full-length offering, ‘Songs for the Modern Day Man’, produced expertly by Matt McQueen at Gem City Studios, is a scorching, thoughtful dive into the complications of 21st-century life, steeped in influences that range from Merle Haggard's wisdom to the muscular riffing of Blackberry Smoke. The duo aren't just turning up the volume; they're shining a light on the modern American experience.
Hawkins has made it clear what this album means: "This album is the story of my life from the last 10 to 15 years. Read it slow. Read it often. You might just find that it’s your life too.” That level of raw honesty pulses through every one of the eleven tracks. From the moment the record kicks off, the band establishes a dynamic tension that keeps you hooked.
The opening track, ‘Right Kinda Good Woman’, immediately sets the tone, burning with a blues-bitten country swagger and some killer duelling guitars. It perfectly paves the way for the rolling Southern grooves of ‘Blues Song’ and the self-reflective fire of ‘Put Me Down’. Morgans Mill walk that fine line between outright rebellion and quiet contemplation, a balance they've distilled into a signature sound.
Mid-album highlights like the singles ‘Circle K’ and ‘Modern Day Man’ showcase the band's versatility. The former is a wonderfully blunt, gasoline-fuelled burst of venom that cuts right to the chase, while the latter allows lingering, powerful instrumental sections and refrains to take centre stage, proving they can be both visceral and thoughtful. Tracks like ‘I See the Devil’ lean into haunted introspection, contrasting sharply with the driving, anthemic energy of ‘Flirting with Disaster’. But Young is confident in the record’s cohesion, noting, “If anyone wants to know who we are or what we’re about, it’s somewhere between track 1 and 11.”
As the album rolls towards its conclusion, the timeless country twang of ‘Rollin’’ is a standout, proving the band can be just as potent when they drop the rock thunder a notch. The raw, redemptive final track, ‘Blessed Assurance’, is a slow, piano-laced closer that leaves the listener with a sense of hopeful peace.
‘Songs for the Modern Day Man’ is a perfect example of an elevated Southern rock record; it’s a vibrant, wonderfully honest conversation between the past and the present, delivering depth and soul without ever losing its sense of humour or heart. It was absolutely worth the wait.
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