Canadian singer Paul Manchin is back on track with
Expressions, the sophomore follow up to
Truth. This time, a similar format as the previous CD had - we have thirteen tracks with six new songs - plus a fantastic cover of a Motown classic.
“Don't Censor My Love” is the lead song on the album and the first that will play repeatedly in your mind. There is a special radio mix of this tune on track there, as there are with several other songs.
‘He’s the “Yes Man” just not to you’, is the main lyric of song two; and the Julian Marsh remix wears track number ten, and is pumpin steadily. As usual, Manchin’s lyrics are well chosen although at the time of this writing, I’m not sure what this song means other than using the traditional connotation of the phrase that a guy who will tell you whatever he thinks you want to hear so he can get over on, or hook up with you.
Love...is “Expression...” is what the man says via the hook within a worldly sounding smooth and jazzy vehicle on track four. He has a slight Michael Franks quality going on; only a tad softer is his voice here. “La La La” is your bouncy escapism invitation – radio mix later on the CD also. Get your calendar out and choose your itinerary as where to “Spend Your Day” away.
Paul Takes On Motown
Now, Paul’s take on the old 1968 Temptations’ hit, “Ball Of Confusion/That's What The World Is Today” is a welcome revisit and I’ll play it during a DJ set, will you? Check it out – I’d release it to radio and DJs untouched because, if nothing else, the words are still relevant here in the future that is now. “Ball of...” is the sleeper of the album. “What Makes People Happy?” is a track from his previous CD is now re-versioned via the Julian Marsh mix; “I don’t know...”
Closing out the cd, “Spend Your Day” (the radio mix) is a nice, better than medium tempo bumper that today’s categorists might describe as “downtempo” but yours truly can only say is just right and smooth. I like the way he counts down the days of the week within the lyrical story.
Summary
So we’ve ended up back at the café munchin’ on a Manchin salad with light oil - over a very listenable lunch in your car or wherever you are. I’d like to hear more songs; a real torch ballad and a major label behind him next time, although he seems content to do it this way. Paul’s solid production and beats glean three and a half stars – up a half-point on the musical market from last time.
