Marshall McLean Heaven's Grey Review

Overall Rating

Articulate songwriting; no-frills approach; tender songs.

The music of Marshall McLean (http://www.marshallcmcleanmusic.com) is sometimes so quiet that you wonder if the CD is still playing. OK, perhaps that is somewhat of an exaggeration. But there's no denying that McLean's songs are mellow and relaxing, quite a contrast from the boisterous rock that is the trend these days among twentysomethings.

Applaud McLean then for taking the road less traveled. When one thinks of the singer/songwriter genre, names like Jack Johnson and John Mayer come to mind but McLean doesn't belong in that category. This is no teenybopper crooning. Compositions like "October Rain" and "The End of Me" have an intimate quality that is light years away from the stadium-filling pop muzik of those smash hitters.

McLean's record is best appreciated near a campfire, when these personal songs take a life of their own amidst the wilderness and starry skies.