Search - Mike Doughty :: Haughty Melodic

What a Refreshing Album

John | Chicago | 07/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the perfect introduction to Micheal Doughty's quirky, catchy and unique style. He was on the cutting edge as the leader of Soul Coughing for years, and now has gone off on his own to create a more mainstream but no less satisfying album. The songs are uniqe and have a great replay value. If you like this, try Soul Coughing's first album, Ruby Vroom. It is different than Houghty in that it's more bass and drums and wierd sound effects, but still good. Every song on this CD and on Ruby Vroom is great."

You snooze you lose, well I've snost and lost...

Mike K. | Massachusetts, USA | 05/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though I personally really like this album, I'm going to have to make the disclaimer that anyone who hasn't been following Doughty's post-Soul Coughing material may be a little dissapointed; the only real nod to the oddball beat-funk-rap of Ruby Vroom and Irresistable Bliss is "Busting Up A Starbucks", and though this is his first full-band solo album, the instrumentation tends to be much more conventional and singer-songwriter-y. This is not to say that the influence of Dave Matthews (whose ATO imprint released this album, and even shows up to sing a verse on "Tremendous Brunettes") has taken over proceedings entirely. Though this album does seem like a deliberate effort to ingratiate Doughty's quirky style to coffeeshop jam-band fans, there's not too much seperating many of these songs and the more mellow Soul Coughing material like "The Idiot Kings", "Janine", and of course "Circles", and if nothing else Doughty's distinctive vocal style makes sure there's a distinct personality. In fact a few tracks may even be a little too typical of him, though there's plenty of highlights like the spare perfection of "White Lexus" and the almost gospel-influenced "Grey Ghost and "Your Misfortune". If you're a Soul Coughing fan who likes their more melodic fare you'll like this. If you're just looking at this because of the Dave Matthews connection you'll probably be able to get into it too, and while it may be a bit of a strange journey, I'd reccomend gradually backtracking to Soul Coughing as well."

IT could be titled-- Hymns for 12 new religions.

Ranj the Obscure | Kansas City, KS United States | 06/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Always a genius with a line of poetry,

Doughty really seems naked and open-hearted on this album.

From the touching 'Unsingable Name' to the pain of 'White Lexus,' this album really shows me a Doughty that is far less cynical, far more spiritual, in a genuine sense.



Doughty uses a more conventional sounding A&R than Soul Coughing, and the sound is more fully realized instrumentally than his small rock period. Really, this band rocks in the conventional sense of the term. I can't think of a single track on the album that even hints of the avant garde. And that's ok.



Despite the more conventional sound, Doughty takes more chances with his audience on this album. If you listen to Rockity Roll and Skittish, you can hear an evolution in his sensibilities as a writer. Gone is the need to protect himself with entirely oblique lyrical content. He still is clever, still a master wordsmith, but seems less inclined to make you parse and re-parse lines for the sake of meaning. There is still enough to discuss here, but the lyrics are rainwater clear.



Really, I think he trusts us not to turn on him with the truth like a cudgel. And the full monty works for him. He says that the days of uncool decathecting are gone. It shows. He may be looking at the world from the bottom of a well, but he is writing from the synoptic heights.



The band is wonderful, the coloration and arraingment very good, in places even sublime. I hope that he and Dave Matthews continue working together. Both of them will profit from each other's strengths."