Ethan Mullenax

Athens-by-way-of-Virginia songwriter and musician Ethan Mullenax just released a new single, “Rainy Day Affections.” Full stop, this is one of the most shockingly beautiful compositions to come out of our town this year. Musically speaking, it's very close to that early 1970s sound best realized by, say, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. Fans will instantly recognize the slow-paced, Laurel Canyon-esque piano melody but will imagine it being played in the aftermath of a Wyoming dust storm. It's desolate and tender in equal measure, and it deserves an audience. Mullenax, with whom I was unfamiliar until I stumbled upon this, has a lot of material available to hear over at soundcloud.com/ethan-mullenax, and this new song is available at - Flagpole Magazine

Songwriter Ethan Mullenax released one of the best singles of the year last month (“Rainy Day Affections”), and now he's just released a new EP, I Try and Stop Myself. It's difficult to characterize this new music as a stylistic change for Mullenax, because he never strictly adheres to any style. It is fair to say, though, that these songs feel more off-the-cuff. I can't speak for the compositions, which might have been lying around his head for a long time, but Mullenax does concede that the idea behind the EP was to rid himself of his internal editor. Anyone remember when Radiohead released music you actually wanted to hear? If so, you'll dig opening track “Unpleasant.” My tastes fall more toward “Stagger,” which reveals what Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain would have sounded like if it was directed by Herbie Hancock instead of Gil Evans. I also predict that by the time you hear “Manifesto,” you'll have a new favorite song. And, yeah, I hate continually comparing things, but when a song instantly makes me imagine Will Hart (Circulatory System) collaborating with Richard Thompson, I just can't help it. Jump on this at ethanmullenax.bandcamp.com. - Flagpole Magazine