Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Mark X. Petz - Broken Man

12/20/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Mark X. Petz

Broken Man
self-released; 2016

3.7 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

I have to admit I was expecting a lot of tropes when I was informed I would be reviewing a “Christian/country songwriter” who goes by the name Martin X Petz. Just take a look at those two genres in the mainstream. Almost all the country you hear on the radio sounds exactly the same. Switch over to the Christian station which I wouldn't do but my ex-girlfriend would do and so many of those bands sound the same. 

Well I ate my thoughts when I started listening to his album Broken Man. The album has more of a traditional country vibe that was immediately enjoyable to my ears. Lyrically, the album revolves around the title of the album. His lyrics are straightforward and aren't exactly poetic but are direct and sometimes hit your emotional nerves.

The album starts with the title track which is a great song. He has an aesthetically pleasing voice and I liked the mix of melancholy and triumph. The thing that was the cherry on top was the horns. As the album progresses the songwriting is consistently strong. “Noble Blues” has a tinge of ’90s alternative music thrown in there while “Fall” is a somber yet emotionally resonant song. 

Some of the tales are familiar topics such as “Run Ride Leave” which flirts around the topic of the “one that got away.” As the album progressed I thought the close “Chained” was the other highlight. 

​As enjoyable as Broken Man is it's not an album that is breathing fresh air into the country genre like A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson. That being said how many albums actually can do that. Broken Man is nonetheless an album that I think will be enjoyed by true lovers of actual country music rather than country pop. It feels authentic, honest and straight from the heart. Something that seems all too infrequent these days from what the radio passes for country these days.
cdbaby
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact