Goodbye Forever: A Review
Mike Leslie is releasing his debut album November 8! Titled "Goodbye Forever; An Introduction", the album gives a glimpse into emotions associated with loss, heartbreak, and resilience. Described to us as a blend of folk, indie, jazz, and Americana, the album is a show of Leslie's own unique style.
Although it is not music I would seek out, I enjoyed my listening experience! Despite the more melancholic themes, it still gave a very serene, peaceful feeling.
The composition was filled with beautiful guitar arrangements that encouraged the tranquil feeling. You could feel the emphasis on the guitar and vocals through recording which I think was a good choice considering this is his first solo album.
The lyricism was very hit or miss for me. One song that stood out was "Dance in the Shadows". It felt as though it had a story, and a personal one at that. It almost felt like part of a old western soundtrack with the context and patterns within it. On the other hand, some songs fell flat. I hate to say that the lyrics were cliche or predictable, because you can tell that this album came from the heart. However, that is the truth of my experience with some of the songs.
The title track "Goodbye Forever" was the main song that I felt fell under this umbrella. In my opinion, it had the weakest lyrics and one of the least interesting sounds, however you could still feel the emotional intensity.
Overall the songs felt very poetic. Intentional use of rhyme and metaphor, in combination with his diction helped transport you. I think that is what helped the peaceful feeling because I could almost visualize it.
"Grand Haven" was a song that I feel a lot of people will connect with. To me it put into words the trap of finding comfort in the wrong person. Even if its inspiration and meaning is different, I think anyone can find a lot of solace in this song.
I would recommend this for those who enjoy a slower, gentler sound. Leslie's smooth, ambient voice and his songwriting are very impressive.
Don't miss his release show on November 8th at the Planet Ant Theater in Hamtramck! Also featured are artists Olivia Dear and Emily Rose. It will be a night of talented songwriters and celebration for a big moment for Mike Leslie.
-BaileyJo McKalko
I thoroughly enjoyed my listening experience of Goodbye Forever; An Introduction. Like Baileyjo said, It's not really my kind of music so I had no idea what to expect going into this. Typically I like the music I listen to to be a little more intense, but I found the softer more gentle tones of the album worked very well.
The whole thing felt very nostalgic for me. I'm not even sure what other artists or songs I would compare it to, this album stands out. It felt like longing for the past while moving on. The guitar paired with his vocals works beautifully, neither overshadows the other. I do think that it got a bit repetitive in some of the songs, specifically, Goodbye Forever and I'll Cry Forever. Those two were not my favorites lyrically, however, the guitar still shines in those tracks. The lyrics honestly just fell a little flat and they didn't feel quite as personal as the other songs. My recommendations from this album are Dance In The Shadows and Grand Haven. They were easily my favorites and I found myself returning to them multiple times throughout the process of writing this review.
This is a good, solid album. If you like folk, singer songwriter music this album is absolutely for you. It's a very easy listen that comes with a strong sense of serenity. I loved the album art, it reflects the feelings of yearning while also capturing the calmness of the music.
If you liked the song we added at the top of the page, Dance In The Shadows, you can catch Mike Leslie at his album release show on November 8th at Planet Ant Theatre. It'll be a night to remember so don't miss it! If for whatever reason you can't make the show, the album will be available on all streaming platforms that same day.
- Steph Masters
Don't miss it!!
