By Jeff Kubik
Cynicism is the bread and butter of my world, but sometimes it’s nice to suck it up and listen to songs with lyrics like, “I wanna shoot the moon/Spend all my cash on you/’Cause you’re…/Beautiful.” There certainly won’t be any scented bath beads here, but the melody is catchy.
Canadian artist Danny Michel’s fifth solo album, Tales From the Invisible Man, is a welcome reminder music doesn’t have to be abrasive to be worthwhile. Unlike his previous release, In the Belly of the Whale, this CD is a veritable decorative chocolate box of subject matter. From upbeat, feel-good love songs like "In Your Arms" and "Two Hearts," to "Thunder In the Mountain," a song that borders on folk ballad, Michel demonstrates a broad range of alternative pop that won’t leave you reaching for insulin. And though there is plenty of light pop to choose from, Michel’s sound is smart and easily digested.