Mike Herrera – Tumbledown
Record Label: End Sounds
Release Date: May 19, 2009
“Let’s drink till we fall down” is the opening line of Mike Herrera’s Tumbledown, complimented by fast acoustic and electric guitars and a wicked snare drum. A modern day country song reminiscent of Johnny Cash and other greats is born in the speakers. Originally I was completely unaware of what to expect from this disc, as I had not heard any of the demos before. I was pleasantly surprised by it and anxiously awaited each track. The closing guitar solo in this opening track gives a good view into the types of songs to follow: ballads about drinking, women, the road, and anything else a man might need.
Herrera does an excellent job on “Butcher of San Antone” to make it feel like a theme song from a Wild West movie. Blood, cheap liquor, and women are subject of this song. It definitely gives the listener a time warp that’s quite enjoyable. The chorus is complimented by Nicole Pike who also has her own solo at the end of the track. She does an excellent job pairing with Herrera’s tones. “I’m Still Here” is yet another song with drinking in it, and Herrera sure does this one justice. “I’m alone but I’m drinking for two” is a line that’s relatable to anyone who’s ever felt the desire to drink away the sorrows (who hasn’t?).
“Came Here to Fight” opens up with quite the catchy line “I came here to drink, and I came here to fight, I’m all out of beer so let’s take it outside.” I really enjoy the guitar solo at the end of the song -- it's classic electric guitar at its finest. This song was an instant theme song for any sort of crazy night of drinking that I may endure. It's followed up by the strong guitars in “Secondhand High” which really brings back memories of Bachman Turner Overdrive's “Taking Care of Business.”
The disc continues with a strong acoustic track titled “Son of a Gun.” Herrera sincerely proclaims “my daddy was a pistol and I’m just a son of a gun.” It is a western ballad of sorts with Herrera showcasing his vocal stylings and heartfelt emotions. Following this heartfelt song is the album closer, “Homeward Bound,” which can easily be seen as an anthem for any touring band that just feels the joy and excitement of seeing loved ones yet again.
This was an album that caught me completely by surprise. I had never heard of the Tumbledown project and really have only heard a couple of MXPX songs, but I liked this album right away. Herrera has a way of making a genre/musical styling that I wouldn’t normally listen to very catchy. In addition to that, the lyrical content is perfect for where my life is. If you’re a 21-year-old I’m sure you can relate to songs about crazy nights of drinking, etc. The more I tried to listen to some other discs while giving this one the time of day, the more I wanted to listen to this disc. Even if it is normally not your type of music style or genre, it’s worth giving a try. The music is wonderfully composed, and Herrera’s vocals pair with the guitars absolutely perfectly. This album rocks like something from the 70’s, which gives it a classic rock feeling, and that, my friends, is a feeling that will carry me right into the weekend.
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