These Turntable music reviews are a lot of fun, but they have an extra side of awesome when I can tell you the album can be downloaded for free.
Not because “it’s lame” kind of free, but Noisetrade kind of free.
Thrift Store Jesus by Heath McNease
Thrift Store Jesus is freshly packed with nice beats and smooth rap, but Heath McNease isn’t all about rap. He’s also got some other styles he’s been working on, too. A very talented guy. So even though I am highlighting Thrift Store Jesus, you may find his other work appealing.
Here’s his Noisetrade bio:
“Something strange happened in the swamps of southern Georgia. Heath McNease grew up in the sticks. He is a redneck turned theatre major turned rapper turned folk singer turned redneck all over again. His approach to music is influenced by so many different styles and textures. Growing up, his mom gave him The Carpenters, Simon and Garfunkle, and The Beatles. His brothers gave him gangster rap. Classic rock, blues, and folk would eventually collide with his love for hip hop and…yes…musical theatre. Heath is a fearless lyricist. With his silly, multi syllabic rhymes, unabashedly honest storytelling, and insanely erratic freestyles onstage…he leaves people feeling like they’ve just connected with a genuine guy. Not a pretender. Not a rock star. Just a guy who loves music.”
If I rapped (I did when I was 14, wrote my own songs, true story), this is what I would want it to sound like. The sound, the lyric, all of it is a nice smooth mix that’s been my blogging soundtrack for the past few weeks.
But wait, there’s more:
Losing Daylight is a fun project.
This seven track EP was recorded in one 15-hour day. McNease said of the record:
“Every second was precious. There was no time to mull over decisions or bring in extra hands. The end result is a project that is both organic and polished…raw and full.”
When you listen to this album, you’ll be left wondering if this is the same artist you hear on Thrift Store Jesus. A completely different style, but one that I like.
The third record Heath McNease has made available for download is The Weight of Glory and the lyrics are straight-up hardcore. Here’s the concept of this album:
“Songs inspired by the works of C.S. Lewis.”
Yes, please!
You’ll be picking these lyrics apart for days.
Conclusion
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these three albums. They’re worth more than a free download, so consider dropping more than a Tweet on McNease’s music or purchasing more albums (yes, he’s got more :D) from his website.
[Image via David Gallard (Mr Guep) via photopin cc]
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