Description
Label Review.
2019 album also available on Vinyl.
Our Overview.
‘Waxbuilt Castles’ is the second full-length solo album by New Jerseys, pop-punk multi instrumentalists Mikey Erg. which is hot off the heels of him announcing an anniversary tour with the Ergs, to the delight of fans worldwide. As the drummer and principal songwriter in The Ergs! and at least a dozen other bands, Erg has as sturdy a set of pop-punk bona fides as you’re likely to find. Mikey released ‘his debut solo effort ‘Tentative Decisions’ in 2016 to great acclaim, but listeners will discover ’Waxbuilt Castles’ is a departure, though and a stripped down, honest album and all the more refreshing for it.
Recorded in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Alex Clute - who performed with Erg in The Chris Gethard Shows house band - its a set of songs that takes its central inspiration from the melodicism and craft of 70s pop rock. In their production and arrangement, the songs emulate Ergs pre-punk musical heroes - ELO, Elvis Costello, Phil Ochs, and especially the Beatles.
Getting there took a bit of adjustment on Erg's part. As a singer, he had to reconcile with hearing his voice in a quieter and more vulnerable context. "It was funny to have to rethink the way I sang a lot of the songs," says Erg. "Alex would say, 'You're singing too forcefully, calm it down a bit.' I had to get used to hearing my voice without this white noise behind it, masking it."
“I really wanted to make my version of Paul McCartney’s first record”, explains Erg. “Homemade and very loose. Not too overthought. Getting there took a bit of adjustment on Ergs part. As a singer, he had to reconcile with hearing his voice in a quieter and more vulnerable context. It was funny to have to rethink the way I sang a lot of the songs, says Erg. Alex would say, You’re singing too forcefully, calm it down a bit. I had to get used to hearing my voice without this white noise behind it, masking it. Lyrically, though, its a Mikey Erg record through and through. They’re the same type of songs that Ive been writing forever - about relationships. Just simple, personal songs” says Erg.