Alyssa Micaela 'The Hard Way' Album Review

Alyssa Micaela has been on the country scene for a while, and her new project is allowing the artist to start a new chapter in her career. Spending several years on this project, Micaela wanted to make sure that she was making the music that represented her and not what the country music scene expected. All that time created one of the best new releases in country music.

The titular tune, “The Hard Way," perfectly encapsulates the feel of the album. It feels like the perfect, elevated country hit. The song has clear sections throughout that make them individually impactful and allow the chorus to shine.

“Be About You” is a classic country tune, and feels like it came just in time for some summer line dancing. Throughout the track, the guitar is accenting the voice. Towards the end, the rockabilly feel leads the listener back into the chorus effortlessly. "Be About You" is a cool, fresh take on a love song. Lines like, “If I’m gonna have a cold beer / I’m gonna have a few / If I’m gonna write a love song / It’s gonna be about you” describe her love as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

“Lose My Cool” is about not compressing yourself to fit better in a relationship even when you love someone. When listening, it feels like a mix of the country and pop-rock genres from the early aughts. This is shown in the verse when Micaela’s voice is muffled, only to be released when the chorus comes around. “Lose My Cool” has amazing lyricism that vibrantly showcases the story she’s trying to tell. The audience gets invested with lines like “I ain’t gonna be / The kind of girl / Who gets a guy / And disappears from all her friends”.

Micaela also has a brilliant duet with Eric Pasley titled “Mad Love." This entry has a more relaxed touch. The lyrics take precedence in the track and stand out on their own. Lines like, “Every touch is an adrenaline rush” are really impactful, especially when Pasley’s lower harmony highlights them.

“Jealous of the Birds” rounds off the project. It was a cool decision on Michaela's end to make the last song in the album a ballad, especially because it’s the only one on the project. It details the struggles of having dreams and not knowing how to follow them effortlessly. This tune is mainly a piano and a voice in the verses, but it builds on itself in the chorus. This is especially true because of the rolling cymbals that lead into each section. The beautiful lyrics help the audience connect to Alyssa. Her words, “Got a roof over my head / but two feet on the ground” and “I’m only skin and bone / but got stars in my eyes” are raw, honest, and visceral.

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