Review by Doug Cornell

Mike Doughty, formerly the front man of Soul Coughing, is offering us new music that belongs in the Wallflowers/Dave Matthews section of your collection.  Haughty Melodic is 100% American guitar rock.  It breaks no new ground, but is entirely likeable with its unassuming use of acoustic and electric guitars, snappy percussion, strings, and Doughty's uniquely gruff voice.

"Looking at the World From the Bottom of a Well" opens the album with a propulsive beat that quickly takes us to the chorus hook.  The instruments chug along, and the expert production by Dan Wilson creates enough space that you can hear each strum, each string, and each individual drum beat.  This is music that is destined for chart status on adult contemporary radio - it's melodic, energetic, and instantly appealing.

Lush strings and strumming acoustic guitars highlight the ballad "Unsingable Name." "Madeline and Nine" relies upon smartly propulsive acoustic picking and a brilliant vocal chorus that forces the urge to sing along.  Doughty gets down and dirty with the thumping "Busting Up a Starbucks" (sounds like caffeine rage), then slows the tempo with the acoustic ballad "White Lexus." 

Doughty is joined by Dave Matthews in the duet "Tremendous Brunettes."  While Doughty is blessed with a unique vocal style, it's surprising how odd Matthew's voice sounds in comparison.  This stunning track is absolutely packed with gorgeous.  Doughty's wry, sardonic voice sounds oddly ironic in "I Hear the Bells," which is one of the most engaging songs on the album (you will sing along with this song).  Special attention is deserved for the percussionist on this track.

Haughty Melodic continues more mid-tempo acoustic rock ("Sunken-Eyed Girl," "His Truth is Marching On"), and Americana balladeering ("Grey Ghost").  Doughty promises he can "...be the friend you want" in the beautiful album closer, "Your Misfortune."

The twelve tracks on Haughty Melodic will hold up well over the years.  Doughty demonstrates that he has few peers in the modern singer-songwriter era.

View the Mike Doughty video, "Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well"

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