Mike Felumlee

64 Hours (Double Zero)
by Scott Hefflon

Mike Felumlee was the drummer in Smoking Popes and Alkaline Trio. This is his solo album. He wrote it all (except a cover of Tom Waits’ “Dream Away” and the odd The Wonder Years sample-driven closer) and performed it all (except a couple guest slots, filled by Smoking Popes and Alkaline Trio buds). It’s quite nice in a fly-below-radar, hints of alt-country kind of way. There are only a few of “those moments,” the kind that bring you to your knees and humble you and all the useless things you’ve said and done and been in your life. Moments that transcend simple music and give you a glimpse of God. Smoking Popes had more than a few of those (hence my being mildly let down by this solo outing), but then there’s also the new CD by Duvall, which also features ex-Smoking Popes members. And that’s another story altogether…
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