Mikey Sweet

The North King

(Independent)

Mikey Sweet may have grown up in the Valley, but his debut album, The North King, tells us he’s been places. Songs like “Driftwood” illicit images of a boy and his guitar and the road, and song titles like “Oklahoma Wind” show he has stories to tell from all over the country. Still, he pays homage to Hampshire County throughout, most prominently the album’s upbeat 6th track, “Mill River.”

The album may start off on a weak note with “Let It Go” — his vocals have wayward moments and the song’s lyrics fall flat — but he quickly reaches his stride. Sweet’s gruff, Dylanesque style works for him. The best song on the album could easily be “Crawling In.” The piece starts out softly with acoustic guitar and light percussion — Sweet’s voice nearly a whisper — then works its way up. Three cymbal crashes signal the song’s chorus, rich with a powerful harmony and growling lyrics that pull you in, prompting memories of young love. “You were head over heals, landed two feet on the ground. I almost lost you by the wayside — on the outside looking in. I almost lost you by the wayside — broken window, crawling in.”

By focusing on emotional lyrics, Sweet manages to tell his own stories with songs that are universally relatable.

Sweet ends the album on a high note with the heavy rock ’n’ roll tune, “Guitar Mike Robinson.” Organ chords balance out electric guitar solos at a pace that’ll have you tapping along helplessly. “I’ll be coming ‘round again,” Sweet sings, and it sounds like he will.•