Music for a warm, fuzzy feeling

Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread bring a nostalgic and somewhat western feel to the table with the release of their self-titled LP. The opening track “Less Than Positive” sets the stage perfectly for the western and nostalgia combination, and while it sounds somewhat slow and possibly a little down, it is a great way to start an album and really get a listener hooked.

The underlying melancholy felt on the opening track carries on through the second track on the album, “Shadow On.” Michael Nau’s vocal style is something of its own and marks every track on the album with a certain feeling that cannot really be described. All while being completely fresh in nature, each song feels like it belongs in a different time in history, and that is one of the things that makes this album stand out.

“Far The Far” comes slightly later on the album and takes the expected sound and vibe of the other songs and flips it on its head. This track starts off on a much more upbeat note and continues on throughout, which really makes it stand out in the first half of the album. This track is unique in that it embraces everything that makes it a Michael Nau track, all while adding a little zest to the album itself.

Another stand out track on the album is “Light.” Instantly, this track has something about it that makes it hard to not enjoy yourself while listening to it. The combination of Nau’s calming vocals and the fun effects on the guitar riff make for what could be argued as the strongest track on the album. While this track definitely possesses a chill nature about it, there is something that makes the listener want to sway and dance along. Because of this and many other small details, it is easy to say that this track is a perfect summer jam.

The album comes to a close on a note that feels fitting for Nau with the track “Smudge.” It has a simplistic nature about it, as it focuses more on Nau’s vocals which are paired with a simple piano and in the end, extenuating his vocals even further. Although this is a more simplistic track than the other ones featured on the album, it feels right for bringing the album to a close. Overall, Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread could easily be that album you have been searching for to be the soundtrack to your calm, summer evenings.