We all have our tendencies and taste. We have buzzwords that we use to describe music that we love, and we have buzzwords that describe music we hate. It’s just enough “this” or it’s too much “that,” One of the words we often assign to music we hate is, “pop.” We all like to believe that we live in a bubble where we are the ones with taste and as things gain traction we revolt against them. It’s hard to remember that much of the music that stays attached to us showed up on the radio as a kid, was popular, catchy, full of hooks and thick with accessibility. So when I say that Half Dead shows a strong intelligent pop sensibility, it’s not an insult. I mean it’s something that burrows, gets stuck in the part of your head where things you can’t shake out live. It’s an album that’s alive with intentional songwriting, storytelling, and exceptional musicianship.

I’ve been a fan of Nic Allen’s work for a while, and so I thought I came into Half Dead knowing what to expect, I was mistaken. Nic’s first release On The Hilltop was well crafted, and had a similar vibe to it, and it wasn’t terribly long ago. I expected an extension of that record with new songs, and I was here for it. When I put the record on, I was pleasantly surprised to find a record that was more sonically in place with songwriting and structure that felt far more mature. The record was beautifully produced, felt polished and clean, without sounding sterile.