MIKE OSBORN
UNBROKEN
JE GAGNE RECORDS MOB-CD-003
WHY–TIME MACHINE–MOMMA MUST BE SO PROUD–COMPLICATED LIE–WON’T SEND–FOR THE LAST TIME–MOTHER’S DAY–BOYS IN THE BAND–FAMILY CREST–SOME WILL FALL–YOU GOT ALL OF ME
Northern California bluesman Mike Osborn’s third album, “Unbroken,” is a realization of his personal journey thru life, and his quest for inner peace. His songs chronicle love, loss, and completing the circle by finding that one special love.
Back in the day, Mike fronted a Stevie Ray cover band, and we get a taste of that groove in the set opener, “Why is everybody trying to mess with me?” Next up, it’s everybody reggae, mon, as our hero wistfully wishes for that “Time Machine,” to “go back and get it right” this time.
Mike is Norwegian, with roots that go back to the Vikings. As such, family is high on his priority list, and he offers some fine songs that show this side of him. “Family Crest” hearkens back to the glory days of Southern rock, while holding things together as a single parent having to be both mom and dad to a now-grown daughter who always gave him “the card, then a call,” is the poignant subject of “Mother’s Day.” Perhaps the set’s most powerful cut deals with sharing a kind word and gesture with a stranger, “Momma Must Be So Proud of you.” The circle is completed as the set closes with Mike finding true love, thru the uptempo, “some got some, a few got most, but You Got All Of Me.”
Mike Osborn has faced life’s challenge the same as the rest of us. He’s taken them and set them to music, making “Unbroken” something to which we can all relate!! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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