"Our love was a train wreck in the stars," sings Mike Press (http://www.mikepress.com) on "Tears of Goodbye (Wayward People's Hearts)." After hearing that, I was convinced that Press' music was rooted in something else besides Americana. Sure enough, Press' site categorizes him as indie rock as well, and the result is a record with enough lap-steel guitar and country jangle to appeal to the American South but lyrically can reel in introspective college kids on the East and West Coasts. It's a juggling act that's not easy to handle, but Press executes it with a wry sense of humour, enigmatic yet catchy songwriting, and toe-tapping melodies.
Fans of Wilco's three-headed monster of country, alternative rock, and folk should dive in and enjoy the waters immediately. But credit must be given to Press for pushing the boundaries of Americana. "Taboo," for example, opens with a moody, throaty baritone a la Leonard Cohen. While I would've loved to keep hearing Press sing in that range, the moment that the track picks up, shedding its pleasant opening acoustic strumming for a rootsy jam, is invigorating. "Barista" and the aforementioned "Tears of Goodbye (Wayward People's Hearts)" are probably the slowest tunes on the record yet they're also among the most emotionally involving.
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You might not always understand what Press is singing about; however, his lyrics are always interesting and are never dull. You actually want to spend your whole evening trying to decipher their whole meanings.
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