Giving voice to many pains, Michael J Sheehy seems a man struggling to cope with the postmodern world. His music owes more to the old blues and gospel players, than the contemporary music scene.
With an occasional nod in Tom Waits' direction, Sheehy sings with a restrained passion. Sadly, the cries to Christ on "Sweet Jesus," a song about the ostracization of a couple due to an illegitimate pregnancy, seem to bring little relief and on "I Can't Comfort You Anymore," Sheehy tells us "Once I was a blind believer/but now I would only/be two faced/if I told you she's in heaven/and the pain will cease tomorrow/she'll watch over you/and the Lord will ease your sorrow".
"Cross," which also draws on religious imagery, but is more about broken relationships than sacrifice, is perhaps the musical high point as the simple string section embodies the pain of the piece. As the album progresses the sound fills out more, while remaining restrained and beautiful. But while there is no rest from the pain and the restrained beauty of some of the songs is sadly not met by even a glimmer of hope.
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