Rob McHale

Music of a hundred years ago, from yesterday or today - whenever you place them, the songs of Rob McHale should be taught in school, because they reflect vibrant history, the value of tradition and living social comment. This North Carolina-based poet, musician and composer writes folk Americana songs that walk you through their narratives in an entirely involving way. They bring home the wealth of heritage and place it firmly in the present, they observe the days we live in and offer valuable meaning.
Throughout his album ‘Fields’ gentle reflective lyrics move with an assured confidence to tell their tales. Softly engaging melodies surround the words with a captivating web. While mellow, richly textured vocals carry their significance. The overall impression is ‘music to listen to and lyrics to absorb’, the messages in ‘Fields’ are so timeless that listening without focus is wholly wrong, do them justice and take time to really listen – the rewards will come in shovel loads.

Each song engages with its own tale, the affecting plea of ‘Surrounded Again (General Custer)’ takes a rare perspective on its well-known story, ‘Back Home’ lays out a homage to those special places we all have, and ‘Irons and Chains (Dredd Scott)’ exposes the futility felt by enslaved individuals. McHale’s ability to reveal underexplored facets of the past comes through such songs as ‘The Castlebar Races’ and ‘Fire and the Guns’, and through ‘Fast Movin’ Train’ and ‘Wishing Well’ resides his understanding of the life of the common man.

‘Fields’ simply says things that need to be said, remembered and repeated to each generation.


Tom Franks - Folk Words Magazine, Heronsgate ( London ), England - Folk Words Magazine - Heronsgate ( London ) England

" This [ Surrounded Again ] is the best song about Custer I have heard, and I have heard them all " - Ranger Michael Donahue, Author, Historian - The Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, Montana

"Real and mature, reflective and sincere, this is music for the spirit and a really excellent release". (Fields)
Stephen Rapid
Lonesome Highway Magazine
Dublin, Ireland - Lonesome Highway Magazine

"With this irristibly harmonious music this disc is certainly one of the highlights of this genre in 2014".
Wolgang Geise
Rocktimes
Frankfurt, Germany - RockTimes

"He has released an excellent record again, jam packed with songs with one eye on what is and what is to come, and the other to what is already over. Particularly warm blooded songs delivered with an equally hot blooded voice".
CTL ALT COUNTRY MAGAZINE
Belgium - CTL ALT COUNTRY

"“Rob McHale’s newest record ‘Fields’ is composed of relaxing songs that are meant to make you feel good. The stories which are told in the ten tracks are socially inspired and some are based on historical events. They aim to make the listeners think carefully about todays’ world and how they can contribute to the achievement of a better society.”
–Rootstime Magazine, Belgium/Netherlands
www.rootstime.be - Rootstime Magazine

" A socially conscious writer with intelligent lyrics " - Randy Walker

Singer/Songwriter
Rob McHale: Company Town
2010. Wooden Door Records.

www.robmchale.com

The opening track "Company Town" tells the story of this project. The song offers crisp clear guitars and lyrics that get the mind to consider something besides the circumstance most of our lives are locked into allowing us to focus on other peoples conditions and lives.


McHale's guitar is huge, but his vocal is even larger, somewhere between a low tenor and high baritone. It's a great voice for his topical tunes.

"Eagles and Doves" is assisted by Leroy Lewis on guitars, with Mike Alicke on lead guitar. The mix in this tune is a bit muddied and with a tad too much reverb on vocal, but if McHale's thought was to show his influences, this tune accomplishes that. I hear shades of Young, J.J. Cale, and many of the best writers of our generation.

"A Hole in the Fence" features McHale on resonator slide with a stark vocal that is haunting, and image-filled lyrics of pain of love gone, not to return. "Julia's Talley House" features Pat McHale on harmonica while McHale weaves another of his stark ballads, a story of the change that we are caught in these days. Nothing lasts forever, but one can always count on change.

"High Desert Sun" jumps out with a solo riff giving way to the vocal on McHale's deep and polished lyric, and a more prominent slide lick, then a second vocalist, Marie Reid, which is a nice touch. "Tom Dula (Set Me Free)" features Sandi Rosen on violin, another sweet touch that works well with the vocals and is placed well in the mix. "When the Water is Gone" features the most production on the project with accompaniment by Mike Alicke on mandolin and guitars and Mike Nolan assisting with vocals. This tune really shows off McHale's voice and ability to tell a great tale.

"Keepers of the Fields" is the big production piece of this project, with Joe Mantione of bass and Chris Dickerson behind the kit. This is some of the best production and certainly the best mixing on the project. After hearing this track, I wondered why McHale didn't exploit more production of this sort in the telling of the previous tunes. This is a clear, thought-out production that allows a haunting vibe to surround the vocal and lyric, which shapes the story. My choice of cuts on the album for sure, the story told really comes to light and allows me to vest in their plight.

"Senorita" again allows vocal, harmonica and guitar to settle back into another stark lyric full of pathos and vivid imagery. "Feels Like Home" completes this project and goes back to the focus McHale envisioned, which is a great lyric wrapped around the vibe of the vocal with stark and immediate production.

Rob McHale recorded this with sparse production to allow the lyrical content to take center stage, but when he uses players and production the tunes are made more vivid. Though I really liked this project, I wish there were a bit more production to illuminate the plights McHale sings of so masterfully, and help us grasp his articulate lyrics.

[Christopher Anderson] - Christopher Anderson

" Contemporary Songsmith who has the unique ability to combine thoughtful salt of the earth lyrics with intriguing melodies and complex rhythmic harmonies on acoustic guitar. Great Stuff! " - Mark Ponischil