Howl (Mighty Oaks) | 4/5
SINGAPORE — Mighty Oak’s band of brothers make music so addictive the members are practically like an Oreo cookie.
SINGAPORE — Mighty Oak’s band of brothers make music so addictive the members are practically like an Oreo cookie.
Howl is anything but forgettable, with Ian Hopper’s calming vocals and occasional low gravelly bits, and his gentle mandolin playing, completing the band’s musical canvas. Tracks like Brother and Just One Day are indie-acoustic pieces that evoke the nostalgia of childhood summer camps. Country fans can admire the work of Claudio Donzelle on his banjo as heard in Driftwood Seat.
Despite Hopper lacking the vocal power to deliver a stronger punch on mellower songs like Seven Days and Shells, it’s still an expressive voice. And the wanderlust lyrics are more than a breath of fresh air amidst all those lovelorn boy-crazy subpar you hear out there.