Peter MacDonald - Nothing

Peter MacDonald

Nothing
self-released; 2023

​4.0 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
​

Residing in Syracuse, New York, Peter MacDonald, a singer/songwriter, has dedicated a significant portion of his life to music. MacDonald's musical journey commenced as a young violinist, until he was captivated by the allure of the guitar at the age of thirteen. Subsequently, MacDonald pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and ventured into the realm of performance, residing in several cities across the United States, such as Chicago, Nashville and his hometown of New York City. MacDonald recently released a five-song EP entitled Nothing.

The first song is entitled “Punching Bag” and to my ears had a classic rock sort of flavor with fuzzy guitars, bass, drums and vocals. The production is minimalist for today's standard but the raw flavor to it felt fresh and left plenty of room for the lead vocals. It’s also a catchy tune with infectious melodies. Overall a very solid song and a nice introduction to his style.

The synths on “Far From Perfect'' give the song a different stylistic feel. I was getting some Joy Division vibes at least with the vocals on the verse. The verse is good but the hook on the chorus makes this song work. It does what a good chorus should do and elevates the dynamics of the song. I loved the guitar and vocal melodies. The song is also slightly funky which gives it a bit of dance worthy type of flavor. 

“Trap Star” returned closer to the opener but this song had more of a ’90s flavor. The band Weezer along with other like-minded bands from that era came to mind. This sounded like a song you might hear on rotation on MTV back in the day. MacDonald proves himself again in his ability to write distinct hooks. Upon first listen it’s defined and prevalent. 

MacDonald breaks out an acoustic for “Here I Am” giving it a distinctly different flavor than the other songs. It's a very well-crafted song that's heartfelt and very warm. MacDonald changes stylistic gears again and gives his most soulful performance on the bluesy “I Want To Get Out.” 

​MacDonald does a solid job showcasing different styles. Although I would have liked his signature sound to feel a little more defined the songwriting is consistent. In particular he knows how to build a song and take it to a memorable hook. There’s a lot to appreciate on this release and I look forward to hearing more in the not too distant future.

Become A Fan

YouTube

Tweet