Billy Shaddox Braves it Alone

Your song of summer awaits, and you’ll find it in an unexpected place, specifically, the title track off the latest record from Billy Shaddox, I Melt, I Howl.  Shaddox hails from Colorado, and is the rare songwriter who seems to have a natural knack for crafting a pop song, and a deep understanding of what makes one great. And “I Melt, I Howl” is truly great. With the softness of Tweedy and the sweetness of Mikal Cronin, Shaddox has truly found his sound with Howl. His breakout record is folksy Americana-rock, with the smoothest of melodies and vocal harmonies, and will hopefully earn Shaddox some much-deserved attention.

Embarking on a solo career was an adventure for Shaddox, and there’s a heap of evidence of the aftermath of that struggle on Howl. There’s a freeness to these songs, perfect for a long ride into a dreamy sunset. And even the deeper, heavier songs have a feel-good, flower child vibe about them that makes you want to run and skip and frolic through summery fields. “Somewhere it seems/I lost my dreams/Or it might be/That they were all taken away,” Shaddox sings on “Golden Coast”, and you get the impression that years of neglecting his dreams for a more traditional career has left him with a strong urge to break out on his own and risk it all, and maybe do some frolicking himself. “I’m sick of this routine, too/Always in a bind…/Burn up your paycheck stub/Donate your life to love/Just give it away,” Shaddox sings on the album’s sole rock and roll number “Telescope”. His message is loud and clear, and it’s one that should resonate with all of us.            

For all the chances he had to take, though, Howl is a beautiful payoff. His harmonies are honeyed and gentle, and his songs fit together like one snugly knit thread, focusing on living in the moment and moving toward the future, never looking back. “The future is your friend,” he sings, also on “Golden Coast”. Shaddox is living the dream, placing artistic passion before practicality, and that courage and ability to be uninhibited seems to have played an important role in his songwriting. “Not Easy Anymore” faces the fears that come with a more practical, artless life head-on, exploring the banal comforts and securities to which we’re too accustomed. “Get out while you can/Find yourself a place to stand,” he sings, alongside dreamy harmonica, encouraging everyone to go out and find out who they’re supposed to be. Amen.

“Leaves in Autumn” and “I Believe”, along with the album’s stunning title track “I Melt, I Howl” convey Shaddox’s bountiful optimism. These songs find a fearless Shaddox, likening himself to a part of nature – wild, uncaged and boundless. On the latter, he howls like a wolf, and on the others he vividly paints a picture of forests and mountains, rivers and trees. “Who You Were” is much more sparse, just Shaddox and his guitar, as he sings a quiet lullaby. “Take in these moments/’Cause this is who you were,” he sings with equal parts sadness and hopefulness. This is especially poignant when you consider that he’s completely reinvented himself.

Something magical happens when an artist really finds his or her voice, and you can hear that epiphany in all of Howl. It’s a stellar start, establishing what we can come to expect from the über talented Shaddox.