Being a working songwriter suits
Colin Hay
. Arriving in early 2017, just two years after its predecessor
Next Year People
,
Fierce Mercy
bears many familiar traits from
Hay
's albums of the 21st century -- it's mellow yet wry, mellifluous with a bit of grit -- but it feels fuller and richer than its immediate predecessors.
handles the production on his own this time, and he's given himself a bigger, bolder palette, a shift that's evident from the opener "Come Tumblin' Down." Lively and bright, "Come Tumblin' Down" sets the tone for
. While
certainly indulges in moments of quiet contemplation -- "Two Friends" is gentle and rustic, "A Thousand Million Reasons" offers a shimmering electronic balm, and "The Best in Me" is a signature, ambling, friendly pop tune --
is distinguished by the moments when
aims slightly for left of center. "Secret Love" rings out like a muted
Phil Spector
production," "Frozen Fields of Snow" rolls along with echoes of late-'60s progressive folk, and "I'm Going to Get You Stoned" has a soulful undercurrent that underpins a nice tale of a generational divide. This narrative could've fit on previous
albums, but what's appealing about "I'm Going to Get You Stoned" in specific, and
overall, is how it's bathed in rich, vivid colors -- and that expanded sonic range makes this record a cut above
's reliably pleasurable offerings. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine