HARDY goes soft for first half of his new album
By Brandon Douglas on January 27, 2023
Michael Hardy first cut his teeth in the country music business as a songwriter. With writing credits that include hit singles for Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Chris Lane, and Canadian star Dallas Smith; HARDY has since ventured out on his own as a singer/songwriter that includes last week’s release of his second full length solo album, the mockingbird & THE CROW.
The stylization of the title may grab your attention, and for good reason. The record is essentially split in two. The first half containing more traditional country music (or at least today’s version of it) and several of the songs fall into the category I would describe as soft, laid back country. The back half has much more rock influence. Some tracks lean heavy rock and even heavy metal or screamo
I’m still working my way through how I feel about the album as a whole, there’s a lot to decipher and interpret. But the title song is nothing short of a work of art. “The mockingbird & THE CROW” falls dead center in the track listing and serves as the split between the country and rock elements of the album. The song itself is split in half and switches genres to continue the album’s theme.
Listen to the album on Spotify or Apple Music and let me know in the comments what you think about the album. Do you prefer the half that keeps it light, or the half that goes hard-y?
Banner Photo Credit: HARDY