Mikernan Arrell  Delivered Rhythm-Drunk Defiance in His Infectious Country Confessional, ‘On My Travels’ –

There was no room for tired lyrical tropes in the brutally honest, raucously amplified country confessional Mikernan Arrell delivered in On My Travels. The firebrand singer-songwriter leans straight into the admission that maturity remains elusive at 35, and that the trials and tribulations of life have left scars instead of strength and wisdom. Through that confession, Arrell leads a riot of honkytonk candour, shattering the illusion many of us were sold: that age carries some natural proclivity towards maturity. Instead, he lays it bare. We are all just rolling with the punches, hoping fate doesn’t screw us too hard, and, if we are lucky, ambling across iconic hits in this punchy country-punk-rock vein.

The chaotic edges of the arrangement match the lyrical exposure. There is a ramshackled electricity in the rhythm, a rough-and-ready rapture that feels almost rhythm-drunk in its breakout urgency. As the title track of his latest three-track EP, the earworm surges with unfiltered energy, refusing polish in favour of electrifying volts of resonance. If you have smattered Steve ‘N’ Seagulls, The Cleverlys, The Dead South, and Iron Horse across your playlists, this release will land as an intravenous shot of high-spirited grit, delivered with a grin and a bruise.

Based in Portland, Oregon, Arrell carries decades of global stage experience behind him. A multi-instrumentalist who has fronted hard-rock trio Master Splinter, composed for alternative-rock duo Unanimous, and explored alt-country and Celtic-folk textures in his solo work, he brings that accumulated fire to his solo work. Beyond performing, he runs his own studio and independent label, building a self-sustained ecosystem that mirrors the autonomy in his songwriting.

On My Travels is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast