Mike O'Neill — What Happens Now?

Even though the breakup of the Inbreds royally pissed me off, I will say this: The bass and drum combo format was starting to get stale. Rather than capture the spirit of Hilario and Kombinator, Winning Hearts seemed like a step back for Messrs. O'Neill and Ulrich. Instead, the full, gorgeous sound of the unfairly overlooked It's Sydney Or The Bush seemed more like the direction The Inbreds could, or should, have explored more fully. Mike O'Neill continues on that path with this, his first solo record, having assembled a full band and added a lovely compliment of strings, flutes and piano. Ranging from flat-out jangly rockers to lush, acoustic ballads, O'Neill showcases his genius for writing pop music masterpieces that stay with you all day long. Just try and get first single "Alsatian" out of your head. The Inbreds will be sorely missed, but this record will easily lift your heavy heart.

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