MICHAEL LANDGARTEN, Back to You

When we start a deep dive into Michael Landgarten’s musical history, it’s clear the rootsy, rockin’ and splendidly soulful, lyrically insightful (and may we boldly add super cool and hipster) singer/songwriter goes back an amazingly long way. We learn he fronted and penned tunes for renowned Portsmouth New Hampshire bands The Doc Johnson Blues and The Zeftrons, that he scored national acclaim from the alt country community and that his solo discography dates back to two albums in the early 2000s. It’s a damn shame then that as we listen, groove along and connect/immerse emotionally to every last compelling drop of his latest collection Back to You, it hits us that none of these recordings, obviously recorded before the streaming era, are available.

Hopefully, the some well-deserved widespread acclaim for his current project will motivate Landgarten – or whatever powers that be are in charge of such things – to change that lack. While we may only have his infectious, similar vibing 2018 single “Someday” and Back to You to explore for now, it’s enough for us to realize he’s a major multi-faceted musical talent and clever wordsmith/storyteller who’s been largely under wraps for too long.

The 10-track mini-miracle of an album takes us on a fresh emotional rollercoaster full of crafty hairpin turns. While he catches our joy with the jangling, high energy and blues-fired burst of anything’s possible optimism “Come Tomorrow,” Landgarten throws some darker, tougher shades of romantic reality at us immediately with “But I Do,” a post breakup, can’t get you off my mind romp whose punchy, throb-rock verses about not wanting her anymore give way to the splendidly melodic chorus admitting that he does all he says he shouldn’t be doing.

Once he’s set up that heartfelt yin and yang of romantic entanglements, the singer pops in a mini “acceptance song” suite, ironically reassuring us that all will be okay via the bustling, funked out “Alright,” which goes beyond today’s relationships, also delving into getting through unresolved childhood issues; and the edgy, reflective ballad “Believe,” which, much like chief influence Bob (“If you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose”) Dylan, shares the liberating feeling of having nothing and no one but yourself to rely on. It’s a fascinating song, depressing and hopeful all at the same time – like, hey you may feel like all is lost, but that can be cleansing!

Landgarten takes this aesthetic from personal relationships to social observation on the slow burning front porch Americana stomper (with a killer harmonica solo ) “Wrong Side of Town,” a richly picturesque, haunting yet ultimately cheerful tune wondering about why folks who live in bad neighborhoods sometimes seem happier. Other personal favorites are “Just the Thought of You,” a peppy expose on the way love makes us feel vulnerable, punctuated with a slow burning electric guitar solo; and the Springsteenesque “The Triangle,” one of the singer’s greatest tunes here, an intricate relationship tune between the protagonist, a younger former lover and her unforgiving brother. Key line: “There was nothing I could do to make everyone happy.” Except put out this album truly one of the great indie rock sessions of 2025!