Wicked Saints

Haunting, brave and beautiful. A really wonderful album, beautifully crafted and inspired, soulful songs with compelling, inventive production throughout. Produced by Paul McCarty with Brad Swanson, it sounds as great as it feels, and it feels good: deep, dimensional tracks that a listener can fall into and swim for hours. Wicked Saints is a great folk rock band led by Paul McCarty, and with great musicians like the legendary Chad Watson (bass, trombone, mandolin), Robert Thomas (keys), Brent Michelle (harmony) and David Vidal on slide and cigar box guitar. This is passionate stuff. Lyrical, hopeful, mysterious. It all starts with ghostly but spirited whistling which leads to a martial beat under the remarkable song “Hello,” which is all exultant faith, the kind of song that gives you a reason to believe that humans can cross the vast emotional gulfs between us. With a lovely counterpoint of voices, robust guitars and a great groove, this is essential. The title song also boasts a driving groove – a very cool, jaunty beat, in fact – and a passionate melody built around a plea to honor the artists in us – the voice that creates the songs we sing even before we fully comprehend the meaning, the spark of creation. “River of Fire,” co-written with Raspin Stuwart, is a charged and mythic journey which soars on wings of accordion, mandolin and rich harmonies; wings that can get easily singed: none of this is without risk or danger. As the name of the group indicates, it’s about the journey of being human, which always contains contradictions. Whether holy sinners or wicked saints, all humans contain multitudes, and these songs contain that understanding. And also the wisdom to laugh at the folly of the human condition. This is a happy discovery, this album and this great band. Paul McCarty is plugged into the source, and these songs sing with great truth, joy, mystery and passion. A record for the ages. - Paul Zollo

Much like the Tejas Brothers, Paul McCarty and company deliver an album full of classy, diverse tunes that really showcases their backgrounds. These are what I like to call “thinking man” songs. - Christopher Plain

One of my favorite recent discoveries from the random music that finds it’s way to me is an EP from earlier this year of the Wicked Saints, Don’t Kill the Blackbird. So I was happy when Paul McCarty, leader and bedrock of the band, sent me a note the full length version was due out shortly and was chock full with 13 songs and nearly an hour of music.

Although there’s a lot of good production and musicianship on the album, what keeps drawing you back to this disc is the interplay between McCarty’s vocals and those of singer Brent Michelle. McCarty has a warmth, tinged with a bit of gravel, in his vocals that have a kind of fireside chat quality. Michelle, on the other hand, has a voice that soars and swoops above the landscape like a mystical bird catching the thermals to stay aloft–always a presence, but always out of reach. She’s no doubt a good vocalist on her own, but the weaving of their styles really sets the Wicked Saints sound apart.

The songs themselves are pretty good, too. River Of Fire nicely captures the mix of Americana, Cajun, and indie sounds that I suppose best capture the overall sound of the album. The title track contains some nice subtle instrumental tracks as it admonishes us to, well, be kind to blackbirds. Or maybe there’s just a metaphor there that I missed completely. My notes on Anything Could Happen say Springsteen–I don’t know exactly why, it’s not that kind of anthemic arrangement I associate with the Jersey shore, so I guess it’s just the rock and roll lyrics about how life is a journey. Baby Gray Bird showcases those soaring vocals I mentioned earlier. The one slight disappointment I had was album closer Pavan. On the EP I noted a subtle discordance I liked that didn’t seem to make it to the final mix here. That discordance does raise its head on Set You Free, though.

WIcked Saints Don’t Kill the Blackbird is an album that’s easy to enjoy. It has solid songs, solid musicians, and solid production. There are all kinds of little audio candy throughout, both vocal and instrumental, that add to the foundation and make this something you want to listen to again and again. Now they just need to work on their videos. - Shawn Underwood

Six months ago, the self-titled debut album from the Los Angeles-based folk rock band Wicked Saints. A band around the talented American singer-songwriter Paul McCarty (vocals, guitar, harmonica) and some very versatile, and experienced local musicians including David Vidal (slide guitar), Chad Watson (bass), Bobby Thomas (keyboards, accordion) John Gannon (drums) and Brent Michelle (vocals).

"Wicked Saints" shows a varied sound heard, including McCarty's light melancholic vocals and excellent guitar playing as Vidal's constant factor. The repertoire on this album is partly included in the Milestone Recording & Post and Vidal's own studio with Annie Miles behind the production table for intimate, intense and austere musical moments provided.

"Wicked Saints" is a brilliant album where the listener is treated to become sophisticated and atmospheric acoustic folk songs (Which Way The Wind Blows, Give Me Time), excellent reggae outings (The Way I'm Strung, Bring Me Home) and pronounced blues influences (Walkin 'On The Water). A pleasant, stimulating and intoxicating album. Absolute highlights for me are the heart-wrenching Mama, the loss of Paul's beloved mother and the raw Run Run Todd. This number tells the escape of Todd Palin to his wife and American politician. This excellent CD from Wicked Saints deserves in my opinion much more interest from the music press than this so far have received. - AltCountry Forum

Exquisite! Wicked Saints by Paul McCarty & Wicked Saints is a newAmericana classic. It’s a gumbo of groovy blues, edgy rock and country goodness. The songs are timely and timeless. “Walkin on the Water” is mysterious and sexy. The swampy bayou bluesy sound is captivating and the imagery is breath-taking.

“Mama” is beautifully heart wrenching as Paul sings about the agony of losing his beloved mother. The melancholy melody is reaching and unforgettable. The feelings of anxious apartness and bittersweet memories burn the soul.

“Run Todd Run” is a plea for Todd Palin to flee from his politician wife. It seems to be born from frustration and expressed with humor. It’s a delightfully fun song. The vocals are brilliantly gruff and sincerely intense.

Another favorite from this album is “Roses and Thorns,” a tender love song full of hope and sweet romance. The vocals are truly touching and beautifully melodic and hypnotic.

The album is awash with acoustic guitars and the musicianship is outstanding. It reminds me of the purely gut level songwriting of John Lennon and Bob Dylan.

I could not get enough of this CD. Fabulous. Five Stars! - michellesmusicmagazine.com