Eugene McGuiness - Eugene McGuiness

British singer/songwriter Eugene McGuiness finally dropped his self-titled album in the US with a sound which is anything but what you’d expect. The album has a big band feel to it- McGuiness says he recorded the album in a room with friends to get an “organic bandy feel.”

He certainly succeeded; the vintage sounding album is full of catchy beats and witty lyrics that will leave you searching for deeper meaning, whether or not it’s actually there. Despite his relatively young age (23), McGuiness comes across as mature with a smooth voice that slips into falsetto on tracks such as “Those Old Black and White Movies Were True” and “God in Space.” His penchant for odd lyrics are showcased in songs like “Moscow State Circus” where he sings “test results are inconclusive as to whether your world is round, mine is a rubicks cube so pass it on and go and figure it out.”

The album starts strong with “Rings Around Rosa”, a fast paced drum heavy love song in which he proclaims “your little sister’s very pretty and your dad works at the city and it’s not the first time a boy like me has wrote those words.” “Wendy Wonders,” the second track on the album slows down to give a 50’s rockabilly vibe that exposes McGuinness’s talent as a noteworthy vocalist with plenty of range.

There’s an aged sound to this album that gives one the feeling of a child dressed in his father’s suit, but McGuinness pulls it off perfectly. The blend of youthful, naively formal lyrics and a likeable, retro sound and diverse instrumentation including tambourines, string instruments, and some use of light harmony make this record an interesting and worthwhile listen.

McGuinness says he doesn’t want his album to be a slick product but to sound like it’s constantly on the cusp of messing up. “I don’t know if they’re great or they’re unusual or a complete rip off of other songs but I’m certain they’re a bang on reflection of what I am,” McGuinness said.

Label: Domino
Release Date: 06/23/09

-Trisha Bruynell