Mcclendon, is back with a new full length album, a follow up to his previous Room 33 EP, which I have written about previously. Catch his self-titled album out now!
Mcclendon has been performing music since he was just a child. He performed alongside his brothers and toured the country for over a decade before branching out into his own musical direction. “I knew early on that there was no going back for me, regardless if anyone cares about what I make,” Mcclendon said. “It’s something I need to do.”
I pushed the edges of what I thought I could do.
Mcclendon
“What I’ve Become” is my favorite track on the album. It’s haunting; both lyrically and musically. The acoustic guitar is like a storm rolling in. The clouds turn gray and black. Mcclendon’s vocals like a changing wind, rustling the trees. His voice layered into a ghostly emodiment of vulnerability.
Fast asleep
Only god can see what I’ve become
‘Cause I don’t know
I don’t know anymore
The harmonies and layers in his voice are reminiscent of artists like Bon Iver and Ben Howard. The production on “What I’ve Become” in particular is worth noting; the song builds upon itself in every new section. Just when you think there can’t be anything else to add to the song, some new sound comes to grab your ear. We’re introduced only to a heavy and dark acoustic guitar, alongside a droning synthesizer that peeks in and out as the song progresses. The song is really a testament to the brilliant use of proper layering; in the vocals and the production itself. Kudos to Mcclendon and his team, audio engineer Jeff Meelo and guitarist Ben Kitterman.
Even without me nerding out about the production side of things, this song is incredibly solid. Great songwriting. A brilliant hook that’s sure to be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. The bridge might be the best thing I’ve heard in quite a while. I’ll be listening to this song for weeks to come, for sure. You should too!
Find Mcclendon’s new album on all platforms here.
Follow Mcclendon on his website, instagram, and facebook.
For more of the songs that I love, return to the homepage.