Yes And Also Yes - Mike Doughty (2011)

I wrote up Soul Coughing a while ago, and mentioned that singer / leader Mike Doughty was still going. He’s become one of those guys I don’t follow closely anymore but I always pay attention when there’s new material.

Doughty is a really great songwriter and his performances are always engaging. The lyrics are witty and vulnerable and relatable and the arrangements are a little 90s-rock-generic but always impeccably tasteful.

I hope that someday he makes one of those statement records that makes me say “holy shit he’s never sounded like this,” but until then I’m perfectly happy listening to his existing work as comfort food.

Also, Doughty is the first big name artist who ever replied to me by email, back in his Soul Coughing days, which will make me love him forever.

Tracks I Liked

Into the Un - Probably an archetypical Doughty song. Great stuff.

Have At It - a quick hit of driving rock

The Huffer And The Cutter - a little nasty but well constructed. Reminds me of the Hold Steady’s slice-of-dark-side-of-life