Michael Malarkey Wows With New Album Graveracer
A Real Contender For Album of the Year
Nothing beats starting a new year with a list of goals you intend to keep. What makes hitting those goals so much easier? Having amazing music to listen to while you’re completing them of course! Whether it’s walking around the block three times a day, writing daily in your journal, or even if your resolution is to not have resolutions, we can all agree that music makes them easier. Fans of The Vampire Diaries star Michael Malarkey will have an extra pep in their step! The multi-talented actor and musician will be releasing his second studio album entitled Graveracer on January 10th. Written while Malarkey and the crew of “The Oath” and “Project Blue Book” were being evacuated from Puerto Rico in preparation for Hurricane Maria, this album will not only put you in your feelings but also open your mind
Graveracer starts out with a self-titled track. The deep baritone of Malarkey’s voice instantly sends shivers down our spines as were taken down what we feel should be a dark road, by the tone of his voice, but the music brings a more hopeful vibe to the mix, making us feel like instead of drowning we’re treading water.
“I escaped two hurricanes – as well as a third, I suppose, my own personal one. This record is my Odyssey in a way. It’s the journey back home after being ravaged in the seas of your own mind and finding the strength to carry on after the storm. I was left with a feeling of freedom and I found it through these songs.”
Coming in at number five on the album’s tracklist, “Tripped Out of Heaven” brings a lighter feel than the previous four tracks. It’s almost like we are being taken on a trip of Malarkey’s life, where at first it’s dark and morbid, but eventually starts to pick up slowly but surely.
“Pale Blue Heart” continues to rise with an almost eighties love ballad feel. Coupled with the baritone of Malarkey’s voice, the track is definitely one you could jam out to while driving down some dark highway on the current adventure you find yourself on.
“Love is Not a Thing to Burn” takes a second to show off the vocal range Malarkey so masterfully brings to his work. Bringing those high notes, especially in the chorus of the track completely adds to the down to earth, somewhat dark hippie vibe which I have come to love over the past year.
“In Love and Death” continues the high rise of emotions that Malarkey excellently brought to life in his debut album Mongrels, accompanied by the blustery grit we typically find reminiscent of the south, makes this album even better than originally anticipated.
Finishing off the ten-track album, we have “Bad’s Been Good to Me.” The title gives away to the kind of song you can expect from Malarkey, who, like countless others, fought through the dark times in his life. He found the outlet of music to help him cope, and we have to admit we’re rather glad he did.
Of the ten tracks on the album, we would have to say that “Love is Not a Thing to Burn” has to be our favorite. The flow of the song is amazing, add on top to Malarkey showing off his vocal range with a dash of that bushy grit, and we have a contender for song of the year.
Graveracer is an album that should be listened to no matter your preferred taste in music. The haunting yet uplifting music accompanied by Malarkey’s voice is enough to soothe any wrongs that have been bringing you down for however long. Malarkey will be kicking off the tour for Graveracer on Thursday, January 9th at Manchester’s Deaf Institute before heading to London’s Bush Hall on January 10th. For tickets and more information on the album, or Malarkey, please visit his official website, linked below.
Jan 09 UK Manchester, Deaf Institute
Jan 10 UK London, Bush Hall
Jan 11 FRA Paris, Cafe La Danse
Jan 13 BEL Antwerp, Zappa
Jan 14 HOL Amsterdam, Melkweg
Jan 15 GER Cologne, Luxor
Jan 17 DEN Copenhagen, Little Vega
Jan 18 SWE Stockholm, Nalen Klubb
Jan 19 NOR Oslo, Parkeateret
Jan 21 GER Hamburg, Nochtspeicher
Jan 22 GER Frankfurt, Das Bett
Jan 23 GER Berlin, Bi Nuu
Jan 24 POL Warsaw, Proxima
Jan 25 CZE Prague, Roxy
Jan 27 HUN Budapest, Durer Kert
Jan 28 AUS Graz, Orpheum
Jan 29 SLOV Bratislava, Randal Club
Jan 31 ITA Milan, Gate
Feb 01 GER Munich, Strom
Feb 03 UKR Kiev, Caribbean Club
Feb 05 RUS Moscow, 16 Tons
Feb 06 RUS St Petersburg, The Place
Feb 07 SPA Barcelona, Antiga Fabrica Estrella Damm
Feb 08 SPA Madrid, Moby Dick
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