Album Review: Arlo McKinley - This Mess We're In

Why mess with success?

Americana singer/songwriter Arlo McKinley generated such positive response with his second album, 2020’s Die Midwestern, for a few reasons. Foremost, McKinley was the final artist signed by John Prine to his Oh Boy imprint before his death; anyone getting the seal of approval from someone of Prine’s stature will attract attention.

Thankfully McKinley had the goods as a compelling singer and gifted songsmith, his detailed compositions inspired by Prine’s work yet far from imitative of it. Critics and audiences took notice of McKinley’s unaffected lyrics, emotional vocals and organic melodies, so it’s little surprise that he returns to that fertile well—same producer, band, recording studio and label—for this impressive follow-up.

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