Inhale

James Michael

Indivision / Beyond Records, 2000

http://www.jamesmichaelmedia.com

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 08/15/2000

Although I have never tried drugs in my nearly 30 years of walking this planet, I think it would be a safe thing to say that Inhale, the debut release from Los Angeles-based songwriter James Michael, is the equivalent of a good joint.

How can little "Mr. Clean Living" make such a bold claim? Simple: This is an album which is to be savored in private, then shared with as many people as you can before claiming it back for additional pleasure.

And, truth be told, Inhale (scheduled for release on September 12 in America) might be the kind of disc that you'll want to "bogart," keeping all of the disc's 12 pleasurable tracks for yourself. But, c'mon, this kind of thing has to be shared with everyone you know -- even people you've never met before.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

Handling most of the album's chores himself (including playing most of the instruments), Michael opens his soul and pours it out for almost 43 minutes, revealing more raw nerve endings than an episode of "Trauma: Life In The ER." Whether some of the songs deal directly with use of, aah, certain substances, you can determine for yourself. I tend to think that tracks like "Inhale" and "Chemical" are more metaphors for the way certain situations in one's life can become addictive.

Michael's voice is solid with just a touch of rawness to it, giving his blend of rock music a solid kick in the tush that one rarely hears these days. With tracks like "January," "Another Trip Home" and "Down" serving as examples, Michael proves that his style of rock is destined to be around for some time, and that it is something which has been sorely missed in this genre.

But Michael also dares to pay homage to the New Wave which he grew up with, coming in a cover of Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" It's a track of Jackson's which has been sadly overlooked over the years (despite it being his first real hit), and Michael does it justice in many ways. If anything, Michael's cover may just serve as the spark to re-awaken interest in Jackson's music.

Inhale is the kind of album you'll immediately get hooked on with one listen, but it is with repeated listens that its sheer beauty is revealed. Tracks like "Simple Thing" and "Inhale" are great the first time around, but you'll undoubtedly pick up messages the second or third time that you just can't get in one shot.

Inhale is the album that Michael was born to make, and even if he never tops this release, we should all be thankful that he got the chance to record and release it. Here's hoping this is just the beginning of a rising star in the rock scene.

Rating: A-

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© 2000 Christopher Thelen and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Indivision / Beyond Records, and is used for informational purposes only.