Soft-rock Americana and folk anthems with a fine blend of heartfelt images, catchy hooks, and acoustic to rock and roll arrangements – Brendan McMahon highlights the very best of his dynamic songwriting abilities, with the addictive and aptly-titled new album Turn Up The Radio.
Beginning with its anthemic title-track, Turn Up The Radio is quick to remind listeners of the talent and brightness of Brendan McMahon’s music. The New South Wales artist has carved out a lasting lane for his timeless tunes, with a seamless fusion of professionalism and unwavering passion, and both of these qualities ring loudly and beautifully, as this opening song starts to play.
Featuring eleven original songs in full, Turn Up The Radio is a lush collection of country folk and rock songs, the raspy character and soulful fluidity of Brendan’s classic voice meandering through a series of stories, from the romantic to the energising and upbeat. Along the way, the versatile songwriter also makes sure to bring home some heavier topics, which are all the more poignant in this setting.
Outback Ball is a great song to follow on, and an absolute highlight. An infectious folk-rock knees-up, complete with organic instrumental solos and an unignorable groove. This one is designed to get you on your feet, another well-titled and focused celebration of its sentiments, and a great way to lay down the versatility of this album. If you get the chance to go see Brendan McMahon in action this year, you’d be silly to miss out.
Versatility continues to impress, with fine songwriting at the forefront regardless. The vocal dynamic of a pop-rock gem that is the Sally Jane-featured Let’s Get Crazy is folk-kissed again, before we drift off into the poetic images and piano-led warmth of the softer ballad The White Oak Tree.
Punchy rock and roll then rains down for the old-school floor-filler Broken Romance, while Help Me Baby softens the mood afterwards, for a breathy and intimate acoustic moment, respectably reflective of quieter contemplation and vulnerability.
Next we’re thrown into a nostalgic realm of wonder that is our youthful pasts, the memories that made us, the changes we’ve been through. Chasing The Girls is another ear-worm, and a heartfelt anthem that takes each listener somewhere unique to their own journey. The same kind of evocative warmth and nostalgia comes through for the later song The Rivers Edge, but not before McMahon picks up the tempo and romantic fun, for the vocally vibrant Superman.
Second to last but perhaps the most conceptually memorable song of Turn Up The Radio, Sacrifice (Lest We Forget) returns to the Springsteen-esque power and emotion of the album’s opener, and reflects upon a historical truth with poetic realism and beauty. This song is performed with undeniable heart and passion, and leads us perfectly well, by concept and varied style, into the superb folk and Celtic treasure Wild Colonial Boys.
Contrasting gritty scenes and storytelling, darkness of topic and tone, with a blissfully upbeat all-together-now singalong, Wild Colonial Boys is a fascinating and immensely catchy closer, which again highlights the sensational songwriting and musical diversity of all things Brendan McMahon.
A songwriter through and through, and an album that’s a sheer celebration and joy to escape into, and rightfully at volume.
Check out Brendan McMahon on Facebook or visit his Website.
