Howie Day Sings Madrigals

Howie Day has struck a more personal chord with the “Madrigals E.P.” Compared with his debut album “Australia,” “Madrigals” has less of an overly-produced feel, sounding more sincerely like a single artist’s performance. Two out of the five songs on the sampler (“Bunnies” and “Sorry So Sorry”) are live recordings, and more than any other tracks they show the immense talent of this artist.Performing with loops and playing over himself in front of live audiences creates greater depth and vibrancy in the songs, normally that a typical singer-songwriter with guitar cannot accomplish. Mixing himself live, he has created a style that is slightly moody but not depressive, melodic and pensive, powerful yet not overbearing. As a bonus, the Madrigals DVD shows the artist performing four of the tracks live with the above-mentioned technique, and for anyone interested in this style of performance it’s a must-see.



The rest of the tracks (“Madrigals” and “You & A Promise,” demos for Day’s next album, and “Ghost”) are just as slow and moody, showcasing Day’s handsome voice and guitar strumming. However, though they follow the typical tension and release format, the same melodic backdrop continues throughout each song, making them less dynamic than they could be.