I must say as someone who is more of a pop punk listener, Mike Mangione’s album, Blood and Water brought me back to my country childhood. This 11-track album will take you back to simpler days with a twist. Blood and Water is what you would call a homegrown, singing with your family and friends, album. The cover of the album is a tasteful black and white photograph of Mike Mangione sitting in a chair. The photo shows a man struggling through life. Mike’s gentle but raspy voice mixes well with the folk county vibes of the music.
Blood and Water starts with a six-minute-long track called “Anastasia.” This song is about how love can tear you down and how starting over isn’t always a bad thing. He reminds you of the empty feeling when you are left on your own. Anastasia has a very new age take of folk music. Mike is taking you back to simpler times through his lyrics and chord selection.
By the sixth song, Mike throws a more upbeat feel with “You didn’t come here alone.” Mike Mangione brings a new age taste of folk music while keeping the sixties vibe. The song has more of an electronic feel with the keys while still taking you back to those ole diner days. Mike really nails his point across in his chorus “Though it feels you are far from home; you didn’t come here alone.”
The album takes you to Sunday church, fried chicken dinners, and front porch sitting. By the time the album is over, Mike has reminded you that things get easier after some time. He reminds you that things always get better with the song “Better Days.” As the album comes to an end with “Come dance with me”, you will be cutting a jig around with your friends and family. By the end, you will be left feeling better. You will remember the sacrifices, the lost love, and just simple times. Mike Mangione took me back to my roots in the middle of the cornfields as I listened through all 11 tracks. Blood and Water has everything you look for in music, the life struggles, happiness, reminding you of the sacrifices, and just how pure love can be. Mike Mangione brings country and folk music back to where it needed to be with Blood and Water.
Ryan Michelle Drake