Review
Max McNown's "Wandering (Love Me Back)" feels like sitting on a front porch at dusk, watching stories unfold in the amber light. There's something beautifully raw about how McNown weaves his tales—each song reads like a letter you weren't meant to find, honest and unfiltered. The way he opens with "Love Me Back" immediately draws you into his world, where vulnerability isn't weakness but the very foundation of connection. His voice carries the weight of experience without losing that spark of hope that keeps us all moving forward.
What strikes me most about this collection is how McNown balances the ache with the celebration. "Strong As Iron" and "The Way I Wanna" pulse with an infectious energy that had me humming along before I even realized it, while "Worry 'Bout My Wandering" cuts straight to the heart with its meditation on family ties and the restless spirit that both binds and separates us. I found myself thinking about my own relationship with home, how we carry our loved ones with us even when the road calls. The honesty in that track feels like a conversation with an old friend who isn't afraid to share the complicated parts.
The album's closing chapters, particularly "Rather Have A Nightmare" and "Can't Hide Light," showcase McNown's range as both a storyteller and emotional architect. "Dear Evelyn" and "A Lot More Free" hit differently—they're the kind of songs that make you pause whatever you're doing and really listen. There's a timeless quality to McNown's approach, blending classic country wisdom with fresh perspectives that speak to where we are now. This feels like music made for the long haul, the kind that reveals new layers each time you return to it. - Raine
