Steve Moakler is one of the latest buzzy acts gracing Music Row, but he’s actually been around much longer than you’d think. He moved to town in 2006 and found work as a songwriter; he has since received cuts and hits with the likes of Jake Owen, Kellie Pickler, and Ashley Monroe, as well as Dierks Bentley’s critically-acclaimed track ‘Riser’. The Pittsburgh native began working with Creative Nation as an artist, and after sending lead single ‘Suitcase’ to radio recently, today he releases his self-titled debut EP.
The five-track effort was produced by Luke Laird, hardly a surprise given that Luke co-owns Creative Nation. Still, it seems to be a good fit for Steve, whose sound can best be described as rock guitar-charged mainstream country, radio-friendly without sacrificing substance, and devoid of trend-chasing elements such as rapping and electronic elements. It’s fitting that one of his biggest cuts was with Dierks Bentley, since the two share a few similarities; it wouldn’t be hard to imagine Dierks singing any of these songs, although I wouldn’t say Steve is a carbon copy.
The set opens with ‘Steel Town’, an ode to Steve’s own hometown and scores of others. Interestingly it begins with a long spoken section from someone who seems to be a tour guide, while a haunting electric guitar warbles underneath. It’s a nice touch that catches the attention of the listener before the song can really get going. Beset with tasteful reverb and accompanied by acoustic guitar at first, the track builds with harmonics and pedal steel before kicking the chorus into high gear with everything going full pelt. Musically it does remind me quite a bit of ‘Riser’, I must admit, but while the narrative does cover relatively old ground of describing a small town, there’s something of a more honest, realistic approach than most country artists manage. Sure, it’s no ‘Merry Go Round’, but the potential is there.
For the most part, this EP is a collection of typical radio-ready tracks that don’t push boundaries too hard. What Steve does do is include more personal, unique touches in the lyrics, little twists that differentiate them from their peers. Lead single ‘Suitcase’ is not really about travelling, but about the suitcase of money at the end of the rainbow – Steve asserts that he’d rather just be with his lady than chase crazy dreams or huge riches. It’s catchy and a pleasant listen, and while it may not give him a huge hit, it’ll be enough to attract a loyal fan base and give him a springboard.
‘Jealous Girl’ would be a good choice for a second single, as it’s pretty up-tempo, has a good hook over a commercial pop/rock arrangement, and relays that well-worn narrative of seeing a girl while out and expressing his attraction to her. “You’re making me jealous girl,” he admits, as he revels in how great she is and how much he wants to go somewhere with her. ‘Summer Without Her’, meanwhile, is the EP’s only real ballad, and features a bed of swirling electric guitars and an edgier vibe than we’ve heard from him previously. Steve finds himself missing a lover from last summer, and laments over how everything this summer is just that little bit duller without her presence.
The EP’s closing track is ‘Love Drunk’, a bluesy, easy-breezy, laid-back track a la Kenny Chesney. It’s a little bit faster in pace than other typical songs in this vein, and Steve’s vocals are couched in chorus, meaning that it doesn’t quite settle into the kind of genericism that is so easy to emulate. Despite this, it’s still a fairly typical beach drinking song, even if the rhythm is a little sprightlier, and no points for that repetitive comparison of being in love and being drunk. We’re all sick of that already.
This is a decent EP, and I’ll be interested to hear what Steve Moakler does next. He’s clearly a talented songwriter, although I don’t think the record showcases the best of his abilities, as it’s a little bit too been there, done that for me. That’s not to say that the EP is full of clichés, and it certainly doesn’t follow bro-country or the new kind of metro bro music – just that I think he’s capable of better. For now, these songs are a fun and enjoyable listen, so go check them out.
