Michelle Malone empowers us with her album Stronger Than You Think
Produced by Malone and Gerry Hansen this is a multi-layered album full of grit and dedicated to all. As Malone has commented she “… didn’t plan for so many of the songs to be about people overcoming obstacles. It happened organically.
Part of my inspiration had to do with several friends who have been fighting cancer and other illnesses… These songs are my attempt to inspire folks dealing with difficulties. I want to empower them to continue to put one foot in front of the other…. I want them to know that they’re stronger than they even know.”
This album does just that; it mixes in upbeat tracks with gutsy roots from the Dixie native.
‘Vivian Vegas’ leads the charge and takes no prisoners with its fast paced honky-tonk type sound and dealing out pure joy. Contrasted with the slow acoustic ‘I’ve Got An Angel’, this track is introspective and presents the softer side of Malone’s music.
Sugarland’s Kristian Bush co-wrote and appears on ‘When I Grow Up’ along with Malone and the two produce a playful track declaring that “everybody gonna wanna be like me” and you can hear why. With a change in pace and sound ‘Black Swan’ is a short (46 second) interlude that sets the halfway mark on this album leading into the ballad ‘Swan White’. With a completely different tone to the first half of the album “Swan White” is dreamy and poignant.
Flowing back into grass roots blues and folk the Amy Ray co-written track “I Don’t Want to Know” is back to rocking it out loud and proud with a mean harmonica solo. Malone formally an Arista artist before braving it alone with her indie label SBS Records back in 1992 she is a veteran to the music scene and her pedigree is evident in this album.
Malone’s thoughts on Stronger Than You Think are simple and sum up the album perfectly, “I write for myself first, because I need to believe in what I’m singing. I wouldn’t aim it at any demographic, even if I knew how. I just write what moves me. I believe if the songs resonate with me, they’ll connect with other folks and bring them joy and strength, as well.”