To see a Video Performance of this song:

First song I ever wrote at age 17....video features classic rock album covers from my collection spanning 1964-1980...these are the albums I grew up with (couldn't possibly fit them all in):

youtu.be/-MExHmTbHT0

SONG REVIEW by Mr. Boston

Next up is Gil Michael's tune "songs" which came in the form of a Youtube video. So "songs" jumps right in with a nice driving, rhythmic acoustic guitar and harmonica VERY reminiscent of Neil Young or Jackson Browne songwriting. Before the singing even begins I'm hooked on the relationship between the guitar and harmonica. The parts entwine VERY well together and do a fantastic job of whetting my appetite. Gil's playing is BEYOND clean and tight; flawlessly executed. There's a nice refreshing simplicity to this tune overall that evokes visions of both a cold gray windy city street, and a warm rocking chair next to a glowing hearth at the same time. The lyrics are nostalgic, beautiful, and to the point. Poetic, but not overwrought with excessive sap and exploitative sentimentality. It's about a man's life-long love affair with music, and how inextricable it is from the good and bad times of his life.

The sound quality is unusually high; very very well done. As a demo or track for potential sale though it's a bit "thin" overall. Not much range across the frequency range from low to high; but with just one guy with an acoustic and harmonica you don't expect much low-end rumble really.

Compositionally I really dig this tune, it rolls along very well; hooks me without being TOO hooky and gets me really invested in the song. But it's not something you NEED to give 100% of your attention to. It could certainly be enjoyed in the background at a casual cocktail party with close friends BUT the deeper emotional and sonic experience is also there for those who would seek it out.

In terms of instrumentation I know simplicity is the name of the game here, and I applaud that, and wouldn't encourage Gil to stray away from it. However I think that while the "path" should remain simple and true, I feel like adding some subtle elements would improve the "scenery" on the listener's journey. I think the song would benefit from a subtle percussion element to expand on the rhythm he's pounding out by hitting the side of the guitar the way he does. Something easy and non-intrusive like a woodblock with a VERY short decay, or a tambourine panned hard right or left and LOW in the mix. Also I think using a tin whistle or some other wind instrument with a nice organic warmth to double or harmonize with the harmonica line would really open this up a bit I'd say.

So in terms of criticism; the only negative thing I can say is that it just sounds TOO much like a Neil Young song for me by the end of it. It fits a LITTLE too close to Neil's signature style and bag of tricks. I could anticipate the changes he was going to make by imagining what Neil would do. As much as I TRULY enjoyed this song; and as impressed as I was by the craft and the execution of it; I don't feel like I'm really hearing Gil in here as much as I might. This was a fantastic piece, but sounds a bit like you're treading water in a pool of creativity, lacking the confidence to go your own way and leave your buddy Neil behind

Fans of Neil Young will absolutely flip OUT over this song. Anyone who plays acoustic will marvel at the job Gil did here; and I think it's safe to say any songwriter should be impressed with the skill involved. But much as I like it, if I want Neil Young, I've still got my old Harvest LP at home any time I wanna fire it up you know what I mean?

Anyway a VERY solid effort here, and TRULY enjoyable start to finish; but great as it is I can't help but think it's mostly just a VERY convincing impression of another writer's artistic vision and aesthetic.