Mark Mathis’ newest album, The Secret in This Town, is a Folk-Americana album with a mystical southern sound that is perfect for Sunday mornings, while driving your car on country back roads. The title track will wake you up and ignite your mind with positivity. Mathis’ puts out love ballads that makes hearts ache with lyrics like those from the last track on the album, “Wondering Star”:

“I am a wandering star, you were the constellation I belong in.”

The song, “Life and Death of a Rock ‘n Roll Star” pulls you in with more sweet lyrics and a flawless upbeat country tune. Mathis doesn’t beat around the bush for long when he sings, “but oh what a feeling when they laid you in the ground, in the summer. . . .”

Musically the album is solid, with great banjo clattering on tracks reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens with Mathis’ great voice. All of this with great sound production value. But “The Secret in This Town” does lack an authentic stand-out sound. His lyrics, at times, can be heavy-handed and the choruses are definitely the weakest aspect of Mathis’ new release, some sounding like they come from a mid 90’s country song.

The verdict, 6/10: “Your album had more better moments than bad, but it definitely lacks what it takes for it to be one that people listen to years down the road.”