| You, Me, and the Windshield - Marcel | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
Born in Gross Pointe Michigan, Marcel was originally not heading toward a career in country music but rather a professional career in hockey. After a roomate's girlfriend heard him sing, she told him to move to LA to pursue a career. He did, and while that fell through, he was noticed by advertising agencies and began to model a bit to pay his bills. While modeling paid good money, it wasn't anthing like performing shows to crowds of 50 to 60 people a night. One night, Marcel decided to go to Nashville and sing at the Bluebird Cafe.
A few years later, Marcel finds himself signed to Mercury Records and is releasing his debut record, You, Me and The Windshield. Produced by Marcel and Byron Gallimore (Jessica Andrews, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill) the album is a diverse mixture of thirteen songs.
The album opening track is a fast-paced fun song about a guy who wants nothing more than to be a "Country Rock Star." The song virtually name-drops every performer from the past 20 years or so and tells a story that you've got to follow some dreams and take chances. While it didn't fare all that well at radio, it did make people stand up and want to find out who Marcel is and what other songs he has.
"Tennessee" is the current single from the album, and is starting to gain momentum at radio while being a video hit at CMT and GAC. Telling a story about a guy who leaves a girlfriend behind in LA to follow his dream in Tennessee, basically a true story about Marcel, this song mixes a beautiful melody with Marcel's unique voice (a mixture of James Taylor meets a gritty version of Tim McGraw) to create a piece of ear candy that deserves to be a hit.
"Annie Divine" is another song that finds Marcel on the road heading to Nashville from the west coast. Only instead of going to pursue a music dream, Marcel is on his way to the love of his life. This song is fun and uptempo and is one of those songs that is perfect to drive to. Its melody will make you feel good and smile.
"The Working Day" has a mile-a-minute feel to it just like "Country Rock Star" did only this one is an anthem for the working man that could become a smash hit. Following a trend in country music where the singer talks the verses and sings the choruses, this song will get into your head and have you singing along to it. It's not traditional country music but is a blast to listen to nonetheless.
Perhaps the best song on the CD, "I Won't Hold You Down" is a duet with Marcel's girlfriend Jessica Andrews. They sound wonderful together and eerily similar to the duets that Tim & Faith have done. It is songs like this that show the songwriting ability of Marcel. I hope this song gets released as a single for it deserves attention for the sincerity of it. It may be a break-up ballad but it shows a maturity to it that a lot of break-up ballads rarely do.
With a story line similar to George Strait's "Check Yes Or No," Marcel's "Take It" certainly has been written before but it remains a fresh version of the boy meets girl and spends the rest of his life with her story that country songs often have.
"Nothin' To Lose" is another mile-a-minute song that has a story about taking chances with a romantic opportunity and how if you don't go and get it the opportunity may pass you by. I doubt it'll be a hit song but Marcel writes lyrics that rhyme and melodies, this one with a lot of fiddle, that make you feel good.
"You, Me and the Windshield" is the title track and it is another, "get in the car and go" road song. This song is another of those fun sing-a-long songs and has a chorus anyone can remember. This song sounds like the perfect summer song and is very contemporary.
With thirteen songs about love and taking chances and a pair of working class anthems, Marcel has an album that is diverse and different than what is currently played on country radio. If given a chance at radio, Marcel could be a huge star. This is one of the better debut albums I have heard in the past year or two. If you are looking for music that makes you feel good, then Marcel's You, Me and the Windshield is for you.
Song List:
Album cover used with permission of Mercury Nashville.
Audio and video clips from Marcel's Official Website
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