I know, I'm a little bit late with a review for this release, since I've already praised the title track, Free, when it was featured on the Hidden Hits compilation in 2003. But, alas, sometimes records get lost in the mail (or while being checked at the customs or my postman wanted to have a brilliant record for hisself...who knows). Luckily I was sent another copy and I really would've missed something if this one would have get lost again. And since there's no best-before-date for good music it really isn't important when a record was released originally.
Free is not your average neo soul album, in fact it's more a re-invention of 70s soul with today's production technology. Just to be able to provide the listener with a great live sound of real instruments, Myron spent two years learning to play instruments like bass and guitar to give us the real thing. And he invited other musicans to join him like his writing and producing partner Josh Honigstock (Fender Rhodes, Hammond Organ, percussion), Sarah Bernstein (violin), Victoria Leavitt (cello) or Jeff Lee Johnson (guitar). So we get a warm organic sound that so reminiscent of Stevie, Donny, Marvin or other musical heros from soul music's heydays.
Like the best albums by the aforementioned icons of soul music, Free is another fine example of what separates a great album from a solid album. Here you have memorable songs with great instrumentations and lyrics dealing with interpersonal relations and social issues.
Just one listen to the album's opener Heaven makes you aware that Myron's music oozes class and soul. Heaven comes along as an update of Stevie's Love's In Need Of Love Today with its vocal harmonies, instrumentation and lyrics ("In times like these we must take a stand/ Put our hearts together and give a helping hand/ To ones in need/ What if it were you or me/[...]/We need it...in the morning/ We need it...we need it/ Let love rain down...it's been so long/ Anytime of day is okay")
The handclapping soul of Darkside provides enough encouragement for bad days ("Some days we don't know/ How close we come to the dark side/ But if we keep holdin' on/ You know we're gonna see the light").
Can't Deny deals with the changes in a relationship over just another great midtempo soul groove.
Myron also offers us soul-drenched lyrics in the shape of the introspective Believer ("I've been sold more dreams than I could count/ If you're selling dreams then count me out/ I'm surprised after I'm still holdin' on/ But the hope inside me is still going strong/ One thing I've learned is not to live my live in fear/ Life ain't worth living without both some joy and some tears").
Brighter Day with its social conscious lyrics and William Galison on Harmonica of course evokes memories of Stevie Wonder at his best.
Add to this a retro-influenced design of the CD booklet and other great songs like Butterfly or Turn To You and you have on of the must-have albums for this decade.