Hey La Hey
Artist:  Michael McDermott
Label: Oarfin Records
Time: 11 tracks/45:12 min.

Michael McDermott has lived one of those lives that creates intense fodder for great music.  Surprisingly, he has been doing just that ­ making great music ­ for nearly two decades now.  The surprising part is not that he has been making great music, but that he has survived this long living as hard as he has.

You can go to McDermott's website to read a good summary of the hurts and pains he has lived through... or go find any album he has released for the long version.  Hey La Hey is the next story in the open book of McDermott's life, finding McDermott shedding many of addictions that have plagued through the years, but still haunted by what those years did to him.

McDermott is a case study in how God uses the weak things of the world to reach people.  The story of McDermott's life on his website tells of how a fan of his found God through his lyrics ­ even at a time when McDermott himself felt he was far from God, living a lifestyle of craziness and debauchery.  How is that possible?  You see, McDermott doesn't just write songs of woe and pain ­ he also writes songs of redemption and love in the midst of the junk of life.

Almost every review ever written of any album by McDermott compares him to Bruce Springsteen.  That is still a fair comparison on Hey La Hey ­ although this album leans way more towards the Americana/folk end of the music spectrum than some earlier works by McDermott.  Those that are expecting the grittier rock leanings of Gethsemane might be in for a little shock. 

The first track, "So Am I" jump starts the album with a strong country-leaning lick that sets the perfect tone for the rest of the record.  The second track off of the album ("Hard to Break") will also cause a slight pause when listeners realize "that isn't McDermott singing."  Sure enough, it is a guest vocal appearance by Kate York singing about how "some habits are so hard to break."  So true, so true.  McDermott returns on the next track, a catchy, sad tune that ponders "why love never ever seems to last" ("I Wanna Know Why").

Songs of redemption are peppered throughout the album.  Don't think McDermott is all doom and gloom.  The best example of this is near the end of the album. "Carry Your Cross" is more of a love song than a religious song... or is it?  Is it a song that God sings to us, or is it a song that McDermott is singing for his wife?  Either way, it sings of a deep love that will do anything for the object of said love.  A very beautiful song that should be a huge hit if there was any justice in the music world.

By Matt Crosslin (8-14-2009)

Matt Crosslin - editor of  Down the Line http://www.downthelinezine.com, web design,  occasional writer 
I'm a major music fan with a great wife that cheerfully indulges my taste in "weird" music.  My wife and I love to travel to strange lands, but I can't get her to join me in watching obscure SciFi TV series from start to finish.

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It feels like just the other day that I reviewed Mr. McDermott. The man is a wind up minstrel who wears life on his collective sleeves. You hear it in every song, every lyrical stanza, and every shred of chord structure. A passion like his doesn’t come around every day, but when it does, be ready. Hey La Hey continues down the same dust filled road that is Michael McDermott’s life experience. He is a veteran of heart and soul, sometimes tattered, weary, and questioning, but always deep. This time he enlists the lovely voice of Kate York on “Hard To Break” and his singer/songwriter wife, Heather Horton, on BGV’s elsewhere. 
 
Looking collectively at his discography, Hey La Hey is his most positive and uplifting release to date while still having the punch of past recordings. It could be his recent marriage having something to do with the good feel vibe. There’s still the veritable heartbreaker here and there, but the tunnel light is shining brighter than other releases. Another solid effort by McDermott just continues to make my collection bigger.
 
thecannyshark
September 2009