Album Review: Isaac Graham - Glorious Momentum

While folk-punk singer/songwriter Isaac Graham hasn't entirely neglected his DIY ethic, he's done things a little differently this time around. Much like his debut release Empty Vessels, Glorious Momentum bears the very distinct sound of an album made with the labour of love. Unlike Empty Vessels, however, Graham has adopted a much more collaborative approach, resulting in an equally passionate but more refined second album. Having spearheaded the recording with the help of drummer Hayden Moore, the man behind the mastering was punk rock engineer Jason Livermore (whose portfolio includes The Gaslight Anthem, NOFX and Rise Against). Glorious Momentum is cleaner, catchier and pieced together with a little more care.

More often than not, this newly adopted do-it-yourself-with-the-help-of-a-mate approach enhances the sincerity of Graham's songwriting. The inclusion of female vocals in Jindabyne and particularly Hearts Convulse serve as not only an aurally pleasing element, but place a more acute attention on Graham's simple but incredibly clever lyrics (“Do you feel that liquid in your flesh?/Yeah, that's called blood, and you should do what it says”). Though clearly a man that has a way with words, Graham never over-complicates things, perpetuating the tendency that folk-punk music has to ignite a sing-along with the energetic Young Backs, and the more emotively-charged but no-less-catchy Nomads.

The sound of Graham's home recordings that made up Empty Vessels were nothing short of charming, but the tidier tracks of his latest effort hint at a more mature musician still brimming with all the same heart.