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OK, let me set something straight...

My song "Is There Any Reason" is just asking questions about our involvement in Iraq. I'm certainly not anti-American, but I am Anti-War. Who on earth is Pro-War anyway?

I do love my country and I do believe this country, without a doubt, is the greatest country in the world. However, I DO NOT like war, and I will NEVER support war. With that said, I absolutely do support our men and women who are defending our freedom. If I had to do the same, I would, however, I'm too old now to fight for my country and I just wish there were other ways to handle the differences between countries without killing each other.

In this song, I'm just voicing what many of us Americans are thinking.

That's it!

"Keep On" cd review

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Added: 8/18/2007 8:50 PM PT
Last Modified: 8/18/2007 8:50 PM PT

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"File the new CD from Mike McGill under beach-folk-pop.

Not to name names, but if someone were to ask me the question, 'What does it sounds like as far as influences go?' I'd say, 'Equal parts Jimmy Buffet, Jack Johnson, and Don McLean's ÔVincent' mode.' It works in a coffeehouse. It works at a beach bonfire.

This 14-track collection of music was primarily written on acoustic guitar and then built into the mix with supportive arrangements contributed by producer, multi-instrumentalist, and accompanist Lee Coulter, along with Jared Gianquito and Jim Woodruff.

This is a friendly, breezy-sounding work. The songs are good, well-written songs, which possess a charming quality to them by way of their gentleness and simplicity. The melodies are simple and right where they need to be, managing to maintain a sing-along quality. What's most interesting here is the relationship between the writer and the producer in that the writing weaves between the moves of, say, the '70s pop-folk thing and more current trends that are still being defined. The productions are really cool, sometimes leaning toward retro Ñ sometimes leaning forward Ñ sometimes combining both and always finding the perfect middle.

Lyrically speaking, you'll find nuggets of light irony and humor, personal insights and experiences, doses of spirituality, a few good questions, and tender relationships. Thematically speaking, McGill sings along the lines of hope Ñ sort of an inspired 'chin-up' attitude, with a soundtrack evoking seagulls, salt air, five-knot southwesterly on-shore breezes, and the hush of soft surf at the green-flash moment of twilight. It is the CD's common denominator, the thing that threads it together.

And even though there are 14 cuts on here, the running time of each is inside two or three minutes, which is amazing, because I usually think records have one or two too many songs on them, diminishing a certain 'wow-ness' for the overall listen. I kinda get the same feeling when I overeat. I was ready to say that here, but I retract the thought. He gets into the song, does his business, and he's back out. Finding another spot on the beach and another song to sing.

Nobody does that anymore. Cool.

Make yourself a tropical bevy with those little paper umbrellas, sliced pineapple, a curly straw, and ice cubes. Then cheer up, have a nice day, and pop in this Mike McGill CD." - "KEEP ON" CD Review - The San Diego Troubadour

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