Alabama native Paul McDonald possesses a unique vocal style that is instantly recognizable. Often compared to greats like Rod Stewart and Tom Petty, his powerful voice bursts with so much heart. The astonishing talent has now released his expanded deluxe edition of his 2018 album Modern Hearts and it retains that same passionate quality he is known for.
The deluxe edition of Modern Hearts features remastered versions of McDonald's previous tracks and two new unreleased tunes as well. This introspective offering deals with love and loss. It reminds us that within the dark times in our lives, you gain a new outlook. That new perspective makes the brighter days that much better.
The album kicks things off with the tender track “New Lovers”. The piece’s pure, emotive vocals soar atop glistening guitars and driving drums. The song details new beginnings and just how intoxicating new love can be. “How Long?” is a tune we can all connect to. Most of us at one point or another have asked ourselves…how long? How long until we can become the best version of ourselves? How long until we can find someone we truly love? He ponders questions like these in this profound single. Concluding with “Bright Lights” it is an optimistic offering about always being there for someone no matter how hard things get. The big, bold instrumentation makes this the perfect sweeping end to the release.
The singer-songwriter is commonly known for his time as a finalist on American Idol. Competing on the show really allowed him to grow into the complex talent he is today. Going through a very public divorce in 2015, he has overcome so much and this album really reflects that. The singer reveals, “Darkness is a beautiful gift. It introduced me to new layers of myself and gave me a brand new perspective, but I'm happy to be out of it. The light feels pretty good these days.”
