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"Do you ever feel the forces that you have to work against?" are the opening words to the lead off song called "Getting Off the Time" on Michael McDermott's newest release Last Chance Lounge.  McDermott has the unique ability to share his thoughts throughout many of his tracks while making sure he is real with his listeners by leaving them with practical questions to ponder.  The acoustic based album follows in the tradition of Bob Dylan or Elvis Costello and will please long time fans of this artist, whose career has
spanned the last decade.

This time out, McDermott teams up with the well-known producer Joe Hardy, who has worked with Steve Earle, The Replacements, and Tom Cochrane.  The first single to hit radio is "Junkie Girl," a track which has been a live concert fan favorite for years.  McDermott is no stranger to the road, as he has often criss-crossed the country in promoting his last several releases.

The disc is destined to translate into a superb live show, provided the venue is an intimate theatre or club.  Such stand out songs are the poppy "Broken Down Fence," the mid-tempo "Bourbon Blue," and the gentle "Leave Her to Heaven."

Longtime fans are bound to notice that this album has more of a grassroots appeal, as opposed to the disc's put out at the beginning of McDermott's career.  His first two albums were released on the Giant/Warner and SBK/EMI major labels.  Unfortunately, Last Chance Lounge lacks the bigger budget of those early projects, but then again production money shouldn't matter for those looking for an uplifting and heartfelt record. 

Andy Argyrakis