Mike Conley is a name that should be well
known to every whatzup reader. Not only
does he constantly perform solo and duo gigs
around the area, but he also hosts open mike
nights and walked away with two Whammys this past
February. Im beginning to think that he cloned
himself (two Whammys, two Mike Conleys – mere
coincidence?).
Somehow Conley found time to record his first
collection of original songs, My Little
Secret. As he is known primarily as a solo
artist, Conley wanted to make sure that this side
was well represented on the album, and a number
of the tracks include just a man and his guitar
(and sometimes a violin or saxophone). But some
of his songs begged to be fleshed out, and for
this he turned to Tim Bushong who ended up
engineering and co-producing the project as well
as providing electric guitar and trombone. At
T-Bush Record Plant they brought in some of the
areas finest players: Bryan Bankson (Rosemary
Gates) on bass, Jon Ross (Definitely Gary) on
drums and Brian Lemert with guitars and trumpet.
These hired hands gelled so completely that
their rock solid foundation sounds as if they
have been playing together for years.
The brief instrumental Startup appropriately
opens the album with lone guitar and eerily
altered violin provided by Marty Spriggle. Home
is an excellent example of Conleys solo material
translated to the studio. Two guitars, vocal
harmonies and violin present this sad folk song
with lots of atmosphere, losing none of the
intimacy of the original. Kaylie Duncan provides
cello counter melodies for Let Her Go, another
sad song (She just wants to be free / She
doesnt want to be with me) with a light and
strangely hopeful sound. Chillin Out is a
relaxed summer day that has sounds like the
musical cousin to Zeppelins Going to
California, and 2 Days is a simple, sweet love
song (I love you with your cheesy little laugh
and a smile to die for), consisting of acoustic
guitar and some exhilarating tension-filled
harmonies.
As good as these solo songs are, Conley is just
as good at writing songs for your standard rock
band. You Were Right is a mid-tempo rocker that
throws in the kitchen sink, including violin and
sax accents to humorous lyrics (I can see that
youre still perfect / You exist to point it
out). Although primarily a vigorous pop song, at
times the way the instruments work together
verges on symphonic. A good-time 70s vibe
permeates the shimmering Dreaming, and the
light R&B groove of Well Make It, which
previously appeared on the benefit CD A Hot
Cat in a Dogs World, will certainly get your
foot tapping. Chris Richardson provides a
growling sax to the hard hitting Why?, where
Conley manages to sound a bit like Anthony Kiedis
of el Chili Peppers against a wall of horns. For
sheer fun its difficult to beat Shallow, which
opens with a jaunty 20s sound and goes on to wade
in psychedelic waters before rolling in the mud
of 90s indie rock.
My Little Secret really should come with
a bright orange sticker warning the buyer that
sticky melodies will stay with them long after
the music stops. Conley manages to span both the
solo and rock band genres through the impressive
strength of his songwriting. This incredible
album is available nearly everywhere (at all
Wooden Nickel stores, Barnes & Noble,
Mitchell Books, B-Sharp Guitars, the Dash-In,
Borders and the Sound Cellar in Angola) so you
have no excuse not to buy several for Christmas
gift-giving.