I first came across Logan Mize when he was supporting LeAnn Rimes on her UK tour in 2013, and I was very impressed by his acoustic set that showcased the best of his songwriting skills. His last album, ‘Nobody In Nashville’ (released in 2012 under Big Yellow Dog Music), was a fine piece of Heartland country rock, and when I spoke to him in 2014 about making music and an being independent act, the descendent of the legendary Billy Mize seemed thoroughly humble and down-to-Earth. I was glad, therefore, to see him sign with Arista Nashville last November; I felt that this would be a great platform for him to springboard from a moderate loyal fanbase to a mass-reaching one. From the outset, however, they stalled on his first single (a re-release of his song ‘Can’t Get Away From A Good Time’ was initially scheduled for January, before finally hitting radio at the end of March), and the track skimmed #60 before falling off again.
Hopefully, then, Logan’s new EP ‘Pawn Shop Guitar’ will boost interest in the single once more. The upbeat, foot-tapping, harmonica-infused party anthem ‘Can’t Get Away’ is featured among the five tracks, serving as a mid-way point between subjects of love, relationships and, well, more partying. ‘El Camino’, for example, is a heavy, distorted and roughly-produced track designed for rock clubs and an edgier moment with a bluesy flair. It’s more in-your-face than much of Logan’s repertoire and is a little startling when it initially kicks in, particularly since it operates at a higher volume than the remainder of the tracks on the EP. The lyrics also fall a little sour on my ears, with the product placement, use of clichés and unnecessary stretching of a crude sexual innuendo. Now, I’ll be the first to laugh at a dirty joke, particularly if it’s cleverly constructed, but the way in which ‘El Camino’ is delivered is sleazy and doesn’t showcase Logan in his best light.
Where that does happen, however, is on the love songs. Opener ‘Thank God For You’ is a classic Logan Mize track perfect for turning up the volume and blasting with the windows down, punchy electric guitars joining drums and a rising chorus, made complete by a catchy vocalization refrain that’ll go down well live. But it’s on the lyrics that this song shines, and it’s where Logan often sets himself apart from his contemporaries. Creating comparisons to the likes of Will Hoge, Logan’s narrative details his wild, runaway nature and the way his lady reined him in and made him a better man. “Now I hardly know the man in the mirror, but I kinda like what you did here,” he sings to bring the song to a close, showing his gratitude for the positive changes love has made to his life. ‘What I Love About You’ is also very gracious, and the way it joins ‘Thank God For You’ in bookending this record helps to remind us that life begins and ends with love. A pretty ballad with an adoring and carefully detailed lyric, this seeming message to his wife is delivered with an extremely heartfelt performance and a big build that would be perfect to close a show with.
I know that these days artists have to be all things to all people to try and make a success of things in the commercial realm, or perhaps just limit themselves to being like everybody else, but Logan’s niche is well-perfected and I’m glad they haven’t tried to mess with it too much. Of course, I’m not sold on ‘El Camino’ and I could really take or leave the lead single ‘Can’t Get Away From A Good Time’, but we are still reminded that it’s his delving into the politics of love and relationships that makes him a great artist and songwriter. ‘Better Off’ is another example, featuring a narrative that is surprisingly original in its admitting that ending a relationship and being friends instead was much better for them. “Everything’s easier now,” he sings on the chorus, and he does really seem to mean it, contrary to the kernel of doubt I expected to twist the very end of the song. No, he is resolute that they are much better as friends, and actually it’s this courage to make a change and try something many shy away from that sums up his songwriting as a whole. Let’s just hope he can continue to make great music while promoting to radio.
