IN REVIEW: MJ Lenderman - Boat Songs (2022)

I had the pleasure of seeing MJ Lenderman play live at The Broadway- a really cool venue above their bar on the Broadway Bushwick border. It was a random concert, a friend invited me on Twitter and I had never heard of any of the artists so it seemed like a great way to spend the night. Well, I still think about that show that MJ Lenderman and his accompanying band The Wind put on. So much so that when they announced an exclusive translucent blue vinyl releasing on Band Camp...it was an easy purchase.

Boat Songs, MJ Lenderman's newest album, stuck out so clearly in my mind from that night and I have been so ecstatic that the album re-listenability has held up above and beyond. The steel pedal that rings out amidst MJ Lenderman's guitar work and smooth country voice creates such a unique sound that it scratches an itch in your ear you may not have had before. The album is concise, well written, and incredibly well put together. The songs flow well between each other but do not fall victim to the common pitfall "every song sounds the same". MJ Lenderman changes his guitar pacing to match the energy of the song which helps sustain the unique quality of his sound. "Dan Marino" is a good example of such a change-- the song has a distinct tone change and listens like a more experimental version of the whole album. 

I'm excited to watch where MJ Lenderman's career goes and the music that he'll continue to write and play. Highly recommend giving this album a listen!