Russ McRee – Pasts and Premonitions (Album Review)

Today’s review features the new album Pasts And Premonitions by Russ McRee, a studio-based guitarist, composer, and producer from Maple Valley, WA (USA). He has a very professional looking and cool website: https://www.russmcree.com/, and he even has business patrons! Cool.

“Russ McRee’s music bridges the past and the future, weaving intricate melodies that evoke deep emotion and reflection. Each track on his latest album, Pasts and Premonitions, from the haunting glow of Lighthouse to the melancholic farewell of Waltz For A Crow, captures moments suspended in time. His music embraces folk traditions, chill beats, and cinematic themes, blending them into a deeply introspective journey.” (Bio). If you appreciate music that makes you feel something good, Russ McRee, as a composer, is all about serving that to you on a silver platter.

So let’s have a listen …

The first track is Lighthouse, which starts with a drum beat followed immediately by a well-played acoustic guitar. The mood is somber, but peacefully uplifting. Then comes the bridge, complete with its sound effects, and just as suddenly, we’re back to the main acoustic riff.

The second track River Song again features the acoustic guitar playing a cool, dark folk riff. More sound effects in the bridge and back to the main acoustic guitar riff, and some really nice lead work over a keyboard vamp. I really dig the ending crafted for this song, as it slowly builds and fades away. So far, the first two tracks have just been instrumentals, no vocals.

Evo is the third song on the album. Starts with a nice acoustic guitar drone riff that reminds me of a day at the lake, perhaps a busy picnic, with it’s busy shuffling around guitar drone riff. McRee sets a very nice table.

Spirited Away is the album’s fourth song. I really like the intro and main riff of this song. Sounds very tribal. McRee uses a lot of open ringing strings.

The fifth song on the album is the title cut Pasts & Premonitions, which starts off with a spacecraft radio voice and then opens up into a nice pleasing folk riff. The keyboards underneath add to the tension of the song. And it ends with “2, 3, 4” in the spacecraft radio voice. Cool.

Tree Falls is the sixth song on the album. Very complex start this one. A lot is going on, multiple arpeggiated acoustic guitar parts flowing to create a vibrant and satisfying portrait. My favorite track on this album so far.

We’re still all instrumental.

In The Name Of is the seventh song. More flowing guitar melodies. The drumbeat in this track seems a little too loud and very mechanical, but the acoustic guitar playing is excellent.

The eighth song is titled Fallen, a lovely acoustic guitar instrumental. These songs are pleasing to listen to, but everything is beginning to sound the same, which I can’t decide if that’s good or bad. At any rate, it does take a lot of skill to play these parts, so hat’s off for that!

Home, the ninth song, starts immediately with drums and a keyboard right out of the gate accompanying the acoustic guitar playing lovely melodies.

The tenth song on the album is Promise. Starts off with a beach vibe with a bouncy drum beat supporting the keys and acoustic guitar lead riffs. Not sure why this mentally triggers beach scenes for me, but it does. You too? Musically, the song does sound very hopeful, which is of course the best resolution for a promise.

Waltz for a Crow is the final song on the album. A nice folk song starts with a nice mellow drum beat, lots of harmonics floating on top of the main acoustic guitar. I dig this chord progression and its interesting changes.

On the plus side, these are really well crafted songs with lovely acoustic guitar melodies and production. All the songs are very ear-pleasing. On the minus side, I thought the drums were too mechanical, maybe a keyboard or drum machine drummer. I would like to hear the songs with real drums.

SCORE/Good: Overall, this new Russ McRee new folk album is good. It has a very adult contemporary folk sound. Each song is pleasing to the ears. Well, to my ears anyway. Nicely done, Mr. McRee, nicely done. Much love, Beth

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