Album Review // Northbound Soul // Love, Loss, and the in-Between

4.5 / 5 stars

A nearly perfect blend of quintessentially American sounds, Northbound Soul's full-length album, Love, Loss, and the in-Between is a gorgeous record. Part country, part folk, and part alt-rock, this local quintet has crafted a supremely listenable collection of songs fit for fans of any genre. The band is, in essence, from the mind of singer-songwriter Mike Spagnolo, whose rich baritone voice reads perfectly on these recordings. Weaving bittersweet narratives in every one of these dozen tracks, Spagnolo certainly has many stories to tell, and I'm happy to hear them. Joined by drummer and longtime friend Alan Bickel, Spagnolo took a handful of open mic appearances to the next level, eventually adding bandmates Kyle and Chelsea Hall (on bass and keyboards) along with Logan Battin on lead guitar to round out the band. This album is the logical evolution of Spagnolo's beautifully spartan 2020 Love & Loss EP, which contributes four of the most memorable songs that appear on its successor. Love, Loss, and the in-Between was recorded by Brian Gloskey at BFE Studios, who continues to be a blessing for our local music scene. Each member of the band is so incredibly tasteful here, making elemental, radio-ready hits.