Matt LuceyI was recently recommended a new artist to check out. Paul Sherry. Now, I get recommended artists by friends, family and coworkers constantly. Sometimes I enjoy them. Other times, I nod along and say “I can see why you would like this”. Then, on a rare occasion, I listen to the album 3 times over and then add their songs to my daily playlists. Paul Sherry’s Peace in Mind led to one of those times.
Paul Sherry, an Irish rock and roller, should have been on my radar before. Playing guitar since the age of 16, Paul knew he had found his passion. It’s a great time to be making rock music too, despite what some people claim. Today, we have generations of rock history to draw influence from. Some look at that as we look at maps and think “It’s all been done, what more can I add”. Paul looked at that and said “So much has been done, look how much there is left to do”. He merges hints of classic rock with more modern alternative riffs and influences from everywhere in between. This results in a heavy beat, but with uplifting chords, contrasted by a gritty voice, with hopeful lyrics.
Paul’s History and Influences
Paul was, and is, a session musician. What that means is that Paul, like some of the best that ever played, cut his teeth on versatility and proficiency. Session musicians need to be able to join a session, pick up on the vibe, play something to match what’s already laid down, and get it right in as few takes as possible. This means that their technical ability is usually incredibly high. Knowing that, I was excited to see what Paul Sherry had put together, to see his own creativity take the forefront. This album is his second studio release, following “Let It Flow” in 2021. He’s known for using a fairly straightforward setup, not relying too heavily on pedals and effects for his guitarwork. He has previously listed Mark Lanegan, Nirvana, Van Halen and Hendrix amongst his influences.
Mixing and production of Peace in Mind
This album, Peace in Mind, was written entirely by Paul himself. In charge of the production and sound engineering was Rocky O’Reilly, who did a really fantastic job. The production quality is extremely high throughout the album. While Paul performed the vocal and the multiple guitar parts, Paul McCabe and Davy Cassidy played bass and drums respectively. Both added great depth to the album, while allowing Paul to really shine.
“Rise”
The first song on the album, “Rise”, is immediately atmospheric. It comes in hot with a bright guitar riff with a bit of attitude. Even though you can hear the influence from more punky bands, it still feels like an optimistic riff. The guitar tone has a nice bite to it but is relatively effect free. With nothing to hide behind, Paul’s skills are clearly heard here. The guitar follows the vocals, which are gritty but work well with the tone set by the guitar. While the drums come in heavy and forceful, they punctuate the rhythm instead of overwhelming it. They accentuate Paul’s voice too.
Then, of course, the guitar solo takes over. This technical and powerful sound rips through the song. Sometimes, too much technicality takes from the soul of the song, but not here. It maintains the atmosphere and feels right at home. The song comes to an end tastefully with a sustained not, which breaks out into controlled feedback before fading out. Haven’t heard that in a while.
“Soul Searching”
This song is, in a lot of ways, quite different from “Rise”. The riff is more fast paced, more energetic. It also has an uplifting element. It makes you want to nod along. The riff maintains the same atmospheric undertone however, tonally carrying the core of the album.
I found the vocals even stronger in this track. Paul knows exactly what he’s doing, with a powerful, gritty voice. It sounds effortless but is clearly a well practiced instrument in its own right. It’s gritty and self assured. If it were a bit heavier, it would clash with the positive tone. If it were a bit lighter, it would lose the edge that sets it apart. It’s right in the goldilocks zone. Its very much a unique pairing. Sometimes, when you listen to a good song, you know exactly when you want to listen to it. I can see this song being played as you drive to the beach in the summer with the windows down.
“Meditation”
Something else entirely is “Meditation”. What is this doing here? It doesn’t fit tonally with any other song. That being said, my god I’m glad it’s here! This song immediately removed all the stress in my body. A low phasing effect lays down a base for this godly guitar tone. The guitar has some reverb here, some delay, and it’s used perfectly. It’s so understated, it’s exactly what you want on a meditation track. This was a huge departure from the rest of the album, a nice halfway respite before we return to rock. The guitar is tasteful and restrained. I just really wanted to mention what a nice departure this was from my listening experience. I could listen to this before getting out of bed every morning and I genuinely believe it would prepare me for my day.
Conclusion
I’m sold. Paul has a new fan with the album, Peace in Mind. The gritty voice mixed with the utterly hopeful tone of the music makes for an album that stands on its own. A real product of accumulated styles and influence. What an album. Just in time for Summer too.
