Tony McLoughlin
Album: The Contender
Label: Wild Eye
Tracks: 13
Website: www.tonymcloughlin.com

Tony McLoughlin is now onto his fifth studio album with 'The Contender' going for a good old fashioned American sound. This album has very typical artwork with a picture of him on the front looking thoughtful.

The focus on this album is of course Tony's vocals; his singing is the forefront and driving force between each track. Guitars and drums enter the scene with good bouncy tunes to help get your attention for the vocals. The first track, self titled 'The Contender' really sets the mark for the entire album and shows straight away what is to be expected.

The lyrics of the songs are very moving and powerful, 'I Found a Star' in particular is a wonderful love song, again using music to highlight the lyrics and tell the story to us. Tony is a typical American storyteller using his voice to make us feel certain ways as he sings. There are of course subtle changes such as in 'Moonshadows' where a slightly slower pace portrays different emotions to more faster songs on the album.

The overall album gives us a rock/country style of music using electric guitars and percussion for the rock feel, but a very country orientated vocal which fits in perfectly with the musical arrangement in the album.

The songs could all almost be mistaken for one continuing story as the music is all connected and recognisable, giving what I would consider to be one large song. Some songs like 'A Heart Won't Run' allow us to see just how much Tony enjoys his singing and you can feel the joy he has in his performances.

This album is defiantly one to invest in for those fond of their American country music.

Paul Rawcliffe