Album review: MICHAEL McDERMOTT – What In The World

MICHAEL McDERMOTT - What In The World

[Release date 06.05.20]

I’ve been reasonably positive about previous releases by Chicago based Americana singer songwriter Michael McDermott. And if you’re looking for a singer songwriter in the great American troubadour mould, look no further.

That is, so long as you’re not looking for a new breed. Because, it takes about 2 seconds into the title track opener for the one arm bandit wheels in your subconscious to align and register ‘Springsteen’, and within another 2 of the vocals kicking in ‘Dylan’ (although elsewhere he sounds far more like The Boss).

But you have to hand it to McDermott – he’s prolific. What In The World is his 15th solo album (alongside his more recent work with The Westies), and to be fair, if you like Springsteen (and Dylan) – McDermott namechecks them both in ‘The Things You Wanted’ – and maybe a splash of Billy Joel (on the Uptown Girl-tinged ‘Contender’), then McDermott is your man.

He’s seen life, for sure, and in the early in 90′s – long before the drink, drugs, jail, rehab and ultimately, redemption – he was labelled as ‘the next Springsteen’, and showered with accolades such as ‘possibly the greatest undiscovered talent of his generation’.

Frankly it probably set him up for his fall from early career success. And as he acknowledges, perhaps somewhat harshly, in the semi-autobiographical ‘Contender’, “I could have been a contender, not like the pretender I am”. But to his credit – for a man who life has knocked him down 100 times or more – he’s kept coming back for more, and What In The World Is another quality release.

But as my wife observed as the album drew to a close – with an acoustic demo reprise of the title track – “Why’s he trying to sound like Bob Dylan?” Well hey, Bob doesn’t anymore, so I guess someone has to. And while The Boss may not have hung up his spurs yet, McDermott is a pretty authentic substitute for those in need of a fix. ***1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)