We Speak Music
Mickelson Delivers His Most Personal and Politically Charged Album Yet
After years of carving out a name as one of the most compelling voices in Americana and folk-rock, Mickelson returns with, If You Can’t Be Right, Be Loud., a record that showcases his ability to dissect the complexities of modern life with unflinching honesty.
Lauded by critics for his genre-defying approach, Paste Magazine describes his music as “the balance between strong, subtle, unexpected, and sophisticated.” On this latest album, Mickelson embraces that ethos fully, weaving together politically tinged anthems and introspective ballads.
A highlight of the album is “Amplify,” a powerful opening track that encapsulates the tensions of the current political landscape. “I couldn’t ignore what was happening around me,” Mickelson explains. “This song, and really the entire album, reflects the frustration so many of us feel.”
Yet, If You Can’t Be Right, Be Loud., is not just a protest record—it’s also a deeply personal journey. “Glowstick” and “Two Flat Tires” explore mental health and addiction with striking vulnerability, while tracks like “Small Town Scandal” lighten the mood with sharp humor.
Mickelson’s meticulous craftsmanship shines throughout, as he not only wrote and performed much of the album himself but also handled the production. The result? A collection of songs that, as Glide Magazine notes, feature “fervently emotive vocals and melodic precision that reminds the ears of Steve Earle.”
A particularly exciting moment on the record is Mickelson’s collaboration with **Colin Moulding of XTC, whose bass work on ‘Only Grey Matter Boiling In My Head’ and ‘Blue Is The Warmest Color’ elevates the songs to new heights. “Having Colin on these tracks was a real honor,” Mickelson says.
With, If You Can’t Be Right, Be Loud., Mickelson proves yet again why he remains one of the most essential voices in modern Americana. Americana UK sums it up best: “The combination of the layered vocals and instrumental textures, along with a tune that feels immediately familiar, is what makes this album anthemic.”
As if dropping a three-pack project filled with bangers was not eye-catching enough, Burgeoning Ghanaian talent NSRB Dray has served another masterpiece with the release of his new single “Eye for Eye.”
Known for singing from raw emotions, NSRB Dray takes it a step further in this new release where he talks about being in a state of despair and self-doubt.
However, there’s no doubt about his intentions on the record. NSRB Dray goes in hard from the first beat drop on the YNT Deezy-produced track.
On “Eye for Eye,” he glides on the boppy instrumentals for two minutes straight, highlighting the world’s abundance of greed, unforgiveness, ego, and pride.
He opens with his version of the famous Mahatma Gandhi saying, “An eye for an Eye leaves the world blind,” before letting his baritone vocals shine through what can pass a “here’s how the world works” pep talk to the listeners.
The record boasts of superior rawness draped around melodious saxophone sounds by Sam Aryee, missing in so many fine-tuned street-preaching jams lately. NSRB Dray’s delivery stands out as the lyrics pierce the ears and hearts of the listeners to nod and note down.
He shared the reason for his choice of lyrics exclusively to Amplify Ghana, stating that his never-give-up spirit pushed him to send a message of hope to his audience.
“Eye for Eye is a music piece written in a state of disrepair and self-doubt. It talks about not giving up and staying well composed in every situation,” he explained.
After dropping “PLAN B” which touched on a similar subject matter, last year, this new release could easily pass as his master plan, but the singer’s unpredictability and versatility means fans can expect different sounds from him.
“Eye for Eye,” is NSRB Dray’s 2025 welcome message. It was mixed by the singer and mastered by talented sound engineer QID Korle.
Don’t miss out on the message, stream ‘Eye for Eye’ here.
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