Indie Music Album Reviews

G. Michael Peters - Have I Lived A Good Life

8/2/2023

G. Michael Peters

Have I Lived A Good Life
self-released; 2023

4.0 out of 5

By My Nguyen

G. Michael Peters hails from Valemount, BC, and draws inspiration from the natural beauty of his surroundings. The alpine landscapes that fill Valemount serve as a creative backdrop to his wonderful songs as well as the colorful local characters there. It’s obvious that Peters draws directly from his environment and community and on his debut EP, Have I Lived A Good Life, the connections there are pretty tight-knit. There’s no doubt about it – Peters’s songs are about what he knows best: his life in the Rocky Mountains.

Have I Lived A Good Life opens up with “I’ll Still Be Here,” which struts in with a warm, compelling vibe. In comes Peters’s magnetic vocals and the instrumentals that support him. The rhythms were very jaunty and appealing. I liked the country-bent tunes and inviting vocals. Peters duets with Cat Crowley for a very convincing performance. The fiddle and electric guitar works its magic for an unbelievable performance. On the title track “Have I Lived A Good Life,” some keys come into this recording. Next, Peters’s country-bent vocals reels you in for an up-close-and-personal feel. This was a sauntering song with a meandering vibe. This proved to be a heart-felt ballad from the artist.

On “Like You’re Still Five,” Peters’s vocals sidles in alongside some slow strumming on the acoustic guitar. The melody was soft and sounded a lot like a lullaby. I enjoyed the ebb and flow of this music. Gradually, the sounds open up for a full-band undertaking. Some strings arrive for a lush sound. Some organ and acoustic guitar/electric guitar enter the sounds for a great meandering vibe. Next, Peters sings with absolute feeling here. Everything comes together for a great sound. Peters chooses to close his EP with this sentimental and nostalgic ballad.

Peters’s music which is a unique blend of country, folk, acoustic, singer/songwriter and rock is filled to the tee with some great energy. Peters knows what type of music he’s going for and goes at it with aplomb. There’s no stopping him as he belts out the lyrics to his songs at the top of his lungs and with great gusto too. This was a great intro to the artist’s sounds and I can’t wait to hear more soon!