Behind The Blues (Breen)
Mike Breen follows the time-honored tradition of country storytelling in the sweetly sentimental ballad Behind the Blues where his traditional guitar work marries with tender piano, and nostalgic strains of autoharp and mandola to create a timeless tale of weary resignation and blues blossoming into the sweet surrender of love. The instrumental mastery on display, along with Breen's unwavering delivery of matters of the heart brings the listener back to days as a small child, humble and quiet, content just to have a place to sit and enjoy the music as it unfolds.
Where to begin? Cartsonis's presence with the Autoharp and multiple Mandolas lends Behind the Blues an idyllic, almost storybook-like feel, while still blending with the other instruments flawlessly, a very special and specific je ne sais quoi. The piano's line, provided by Ponzek finds opportunity for plenty of flair and personality amid wonderful simplicity, and the contrast between acoustic and resonator guitar furthers this same sense of carefully crafted restraint. A moment of resolve (at approximately 3.21) and the lead up to it (starting around 3.07) work together to grant the closing measures particular poignance. All that being said, the song truly owes its soul to the excellently arranged and delivered lyrics that paint a vivid picture of a lonely, aging narrator long resigned to his fate, and his miraculous evolution as he begins to discover love in his world, and finally bids the Blues farewell.
Mike Breen has given the world a beautiful song, impressively self-produced, and considering its publishing credits, I imagine many others agree. Thank you for sharing.
Behind the Blues is essentially Country in structure, but Mike Breen may find it tugging on the heartstrings of Pop, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, and Indie listeners; really anyone who's up for a song full of authentic emotion. Great for live performances, album sales, and personal playlists alike, the possibilities for Behind the Blues are many. My guess would be that there are dozens of prolific country artists who would beg (and pay) for a chance to perform this song, but with the excellent execution of Breen and company, I wouldn't blame him for wanting to keep this one to himself.
-Mary Wildsmith
Mike Breen follows the time-honored tradition of country storytelling in the sweetly sentimental ballad Behind the Blues where his traditional guitar work marries with tender piano, and nostalgic strains of autoharp and mandola to create a timeless tale of weary resignation and blues blossoming into the sweet surrender of love. The instrumental mastery on display, along with Breen's unwavering delivery of matters of the heart brings the listener back to days as a small child, humble and quiet, content just to have a place to sit and enjoy the music as it unfolds.
Where to begin? Cartsonis's presence with the Autoharp and multiple Mandolas lends Behind the Blues an idyllic, almost storybook-like feel, while still blending with the other instruments flawlessly, a very special and specific je ne sais quoi. The piano's line, provided by Ponzek finds opportunity for plenty of flair and personality amid wonderful simplicity, and the contrast between acoustic and resonator guitar furthers this same sense of carefully crafted restraint. A moment of resolve (at approximately 3.21) and the lead up to it (starting around 3.07) work together to grant the closing measures particular poignance. All that being said, the song truly owes its soul to the excellently arranged and delivered lyrics that paint a vivid picture of a lonely, aging narrator long resigned to his fate, and his miraculous evolution as he begins to discover love in his world, and finally bids the Blues farewell.
Mike Breen has given the world a beautiful song, impressively self-produced, and considering its publishing credits, I imagine many others agree. Thank you for sharing.
Behind the Blues is essentially Country in structure, but Mike Breen may find it tugging on the heartstrings of Pop, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, and Indie listeners; really anyone who's up for a song full of authentic emotion. Great for live performances, album sales, and personal playlists alike, the possibilities for Behind the Blues are many. My guess would be that there are dozens of prolific country artists who would beg (and pay) for a chance to perform this song, but with the excellent execution of Breen and company, I wouldn't blame him for wanting to keep this one to himself.
-Mary Wildsmith
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