Mike T. Kerr is a man of many homes. From Toronto to Halifax to Nashville, Kerr brings his guitar and charming country vocals wherever he finds himself. He lends himself to countless projects or shines all on his own. There’s a timeless effortless to what he does – a true rolling stone.
His new album, ‘Guitar Rags & Country Ballads’, is the perfect ensemble for his first official full-length album. The album fluxes between showcasing his vocal chops and his skillful mastery of the guitar. In some songs, the story told in the lyrics is the focus. In others, he doesn’t sing a peep to let his guitar do the talking.
These instrumental songs are interesting. They aren’t treated as musical interludes as instrumentals often are on full-length albums. There are only three, and while two of them are on the shorter side at two minutes, the his cover of Charlie Parker’s ‘Donna Lee’ is almost the longest song on the album. It’s an upbeat mix of guitar and Anna Wedlock’s strings that builds in pace and intensity as it goes on. The lack of vocals makes it a dynamic listen – the roads it takes are unpredictable, and without a voice to tell a story, you’re left to make the predictions yourself.
When Kerr does choose to use his voice, it’s with a classic country twang and seasoned storytelling. The opening song, ‘I Ain’t Sad & Lonely No More (I’m Just Sad)’, is just as much of a frantic mouthful as its title. It’s fast-paced, and Kerr crams as many depressing life lessons as possible into the short song. As far as opening tracks go, it’s gripping, and the album will keep you hooked until the end.
Thematically, the album is tied together with woeful self-reflection and working through hardships – a staple in the blues-country genre. Sometimes this is cleverly hidden behind foot-tapping rhythm, but other times Kerr’s mournful voice comes across loud and clear. In ‘She’s Just Something (I Don’t Remember You Being)’, Kerr is joined in the chorus by soft female vocals and the effect is beautiful.
Overall, ‘Guitar Rags & Country Ballads’ is a quintessential country album, but Kerr manages to bring enough of his own charm and spin to the genre that it will be a fresh listen to country lovers and newbies alike.