Review
**RMCM** arrived in May 2017 as a scrappy, heartfelt introduction to Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners, recorded in what the Colorado band affectionately called the "Harry Potter closet" beneath a stairwell at a band member's mom's house. Released on their college graduation day, this 14-track collection runs just over 42 minutes and wears its DIY roots proudly—think fingerpicked guitars, hushed vocals, and the kind of unvarnished sincerity that only comes from creating something with zero budget and total conviction. The sweltering recording conditions seem to have infused the album with a palpable warmth, capturing a moment in time when these musicians were still finding their footing but already possessed a distinctive voice.
The album opens with "Evergreen," a haunting piece that quietly sat in the shadows for years before unexpectedly exploding on TikTok in 2024, proving that good songs have their own timeline. Throughout the record, tracks like "Lake Missoula," "Lucerne," and "St. Paul" paint vivid portraits of specific places while maintaining an emotional intimacy that feels universal. "Sweetwater" and "Wind" showcase the band's ability to evoke vast, open spaces through minimal instrumentation, while "Cairo" (featuring Noah Watts) adds a collaborative dimension to their spare aesthetic. Shorter moments like "Sage," "Alma//11542," and "Iodine" function almost like musical haikus, offering concentrated bursts of poetic imagery.
What makes **RMCM** endure is its complete lack of pretension—these are songs that prioritize feeling over polish, connection over production value. "Fall of Fairbanks" and "Porcelain" demonstrate the band's knack for blending gentle rhythms with evocative storytelling, while the album closes with a live version of "Vista" that bookends the journey with raw immediacy. This debut may have initially flown under most radars, but its homespun charm and emotional honesty have gradually won it a devoted following, making it a rewarding discovery for anyone willing to meet these songs on their own quiet, unassuming terms. - Jade
