Doug McCurry – Doug McCurry & The Verticals

Primary URL: https://www.dougmccurry.com/

Charlotte, NC based Doug McCurry just released his third studio album entitled “Doug McCurry & The Verticals”. Has received critical acclaim from many music critics and their hybrid sound of folk/Pop is turning people’s ears and heads. Band consists of: Doug McCurry (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards), William Earl (Drums, Percussion), Greg Gilbert (Bass), Marcus Harmon (Saxophone), Phillip Howe (Trumpet). Lisa Spring (Violin), Toni Naples (Accordion).

Their dramatic crescendos, minimalist intensity, through intricate harmonies have elicited comparisons to OK Go, Tm Petty, Timbuk 3, Rivers Cuomo, Flight of the Condors and The Rakes. Each track has a ton of dynamics, you almost forget its simplicity and the fact that there is so much going on track to track if you listen carefully. Once “Doug McCurry & The Verticals” came on, I kept replaying it over and over.  It is a mysterious packed with so much funny-tension yet much real-raw emotion. I get the impression McCurry is a bit frustrated but uses music as an outlet to vent his life’s observations. Almost enough to make me laugh and cry at the same time.  Lucky for me, I’m not the loveydovey’ folk type anyway. All jokes aside, it’s a wonderful album that invokes mystery. Despite folk and alternative rock I can even heard Soul and R&B. Both “Nasty” and “Knocked Me Down” are equally as impressive and “Bostic Sunrise” and “Fireball” are a bit polarizing being next to each other. I usually don’t like it when critics use the term “musical journey”—even though I’ve done it myself on a few occasions.  For me it usually means it’s a journey you don’t want to go on, and the critic is just being nice.  But listening to the music of Doug McCurry the cliché applies quite appropriately and almost emotionally. Top tracks – “Fireball”, “Nasty”, “Knocked Me Down”. Doug McCurry & The Verticals does exactly what it’s designed to do – inspires the mind and restless soul.  These songs are performed well and will have the listener drifting off in and out of various emotional landscapes—if I may take the liberty to sound so corny. I get the same sensation with McCurry as I do with old school Timbuk 3. When listening to the vocal greats, there’s nothing to be nitpicky about.  Nothing to pinpoint and say, “Aha, this is where they screwed up!”  You simply get lost in the music, to the point of not wanting to find your way out.

Soulful vocal enthusiasts that like alternative rock should definitely check out the brilliant music of Doug McCurry as soon as humanly possible via below link Trust me – it’s a crazy maze you won’t want to find your way out of.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A5174%2Cp_32%3ADoug%20McCurry

4/5 Stars

Daniel Lofton