New Music Review: “What You Hope For” – Midnight Salvage Company

by Darrell Fortune / NWCZ Radio

Midnight Salvage Company is one the classic bands that adds flavor, depth, and variety to the South Sound musical landscape. Their new CD, “What You Hope For,” captures their sound exquisitely.

MSCo’s  brand of rock and roll lies solidly between red dirt Americana and rootsy, country rock. It would be easy to make comparisons to Petty and Dylan and the like, but lead singer Brason Alexander has his own unique, gravelly voice that he uses to paint lyrical pictures of life, love, and loss.

Each song is a snapshot of a place in life most of us have gone through, solidly offering up a full sound that creates the mood and soundtrack to the story.

Lyrically, Midnight Salvage Co. is masterful in telling simple stories, along with depth and conviction that draws you in and holds you tight.

This is an album of diverse sound, which compliments the lyrical prose.  From the lonely violin in 21st St. to the driving guitars and pounding drums in Dull Knife, there’s really something for everyone. With Bryan Khiel on guitar, Michael Haley on drums, and Aubrey Shelton on the keyboard, MSCo. can rock you or play a sad song, both with conviction and skill.

Leaning on Conrad Uno at Egg Studio to bring his expertise and experience to this project was a great move. What You Hope For is a solid representation of MSCo that we’ve been hearing from their live shows around these parts for the last few years. It’s their first release since 2009’s self titled album, and it’s definitely worth the wait.

Go ahead, grab yourself a cold one. Stick ‘What You Hope For’ in the player, and experience a band that’ll walk you down a dusty gravel road on a sunny day and remind you of the simple pleasures in life  – and rock you right.

Their new release is available on iTunes.

Not only is he a multi-media journalist, he is also an accomplished musician. He is the founder of SMI and drives the creative look, feel and branding for the publication. His years of writing, arranging, and performing live music in a variety of genres inform his ability to communicate the message and the mechanics of music. Roth’s work on SMI reflects his philosophy that music is the universal language, and builds community. He believes it has the power to unite people of every race, religion, gender, and persuasion.