Future One - Lost Mighway

Future One

Lost Mighway
self-released; 2020

4.0 out of 5

By Jay Freeman

Future One is a new project founded by Paul Magliari (Paul JM) who is based in Peekskill, New York. The style of Future One’s debut release Lost Mighway is pop music that is served up with the dynamics with influences of the late ’70s pop and ’80s bands like Squeeze and XTC. Paul JM started teaching himself drums at the age of 11 and had a band at age 13. He was also teaching himself guitar and joined another band at age 15 as a guitarist. At 20 he joined an original punk band called The Latest. They played CBGB’s quite often, even recording for the CBGB’s second live album which was never released. The Latest had a single out titled “Red Lips.” Paul JM later joined a progressive punk band called IBM and they too were popular at CBGB’s. Paul JM states that their performances “were like the Talking Heads on acid.”
 
In 2000 Paul JM started his first solo project Period Comma and released several CDs under this name. Soon after he took a break from music to write screenplays and stage plays, in which several of the latter were performed in Manhattan and Westchester County. More recently, Paul JM played a series of live shows with Period Comma, released a CD and has been in several other musical projects including a Bowie cover band. His latest release Lost Mighway was produced by Wayne Warnecke and Future One and recorded, mixed and mastered by Warnecke at Peaceful Waters Music. Paul JM’s work has been compared to bands like Squeeze, XTC, Guided by Voices and The Rembrandts. 

​The first track “Great Day” reads like a guy waking to a new day after getting over a love lost –“It’s a great day / it’s a great day / waking up from wasting my time.” I love the clean pop sound with every instrument having a rich, full sound. Very Beatle-esque but I can also hear Squeeze and XTC in here, too. “Red’s the Color” offers the listener a quirkier pop rock style – I’m really beginning to love the sound of that snare – this stuff is getting infectious. “Road to Us” reads like a straight up love song with its lighthearted lyrics and fun playing pop style. The funniest line – “I really like your nose – And all the other holes in you.” Moving on, “Who Are You For” features softer tones and it asks – “Who are you for” as other lines invite one to “unlock your locks and open your doors” and “decipher your real fears.” The lyrics have a pure and innocent quality about them. The sound reminds me of R.E.M. off of Out of Time or Billy Bragg from Don’t Try This at Home.
 
Next is “IT = Love” and the sound is pretty much dead on XTC – especially during the bridge. Extra strings, which sound fantastic, are played by Katie Jacoby. The drums and guitar solo parts are quite lively, too. “Alien Interview / Behind Glass” is a song from the point of view of an E.T. that lands on Earth on a “hot humid August day.” Lots of smooth sounding bass on this one and the trombone, played by Chris Olness, is a great addition. Moving onward to “Fantasy” which is an acoustic quirky-pop song. This one reminds me of Bowie in some ways – like his lighter sounding stuff. “On Our Way” has a no-nonsense pop style and the vocal harmonies are spot on smooth. Great Rickenbacker sounding guitars as well – if that’s what Paul JM plays that is.

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