A Bad Think, Lifelike Review

A Bad Think is a Michael Marquart brainchild that is a product of him acquiring much time in recording studios throughout his career. In 2012, he bought the world-famous Flyte Tyme studio in Los Angeles from superstar producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. He gutted all of the offices on the first floor to build a new Analog tracking Room that includes Les Paul’s personal 2″ Ampex 16 track mm1000 and rebranded the studio as Windmark Recording. Windmark’s impressive client roster reads like a who’s who of the music industry’s power players including, Timbaland, Rhianna, Young Jeezy, Epic, Universal Records, Def Jam Records, etc. As an artist, Marquart was recruited by the British Grammy Award-winning band, A Flock Of Seagulls, to play drums on an album, and after the session, he joined the band briefly but decided to return to his music. His albums included A BAD THINK (2006), SIMPLY RHYMES (2009), SARA LESS (2010), and MEDICINE (2012). A Bad Think is now releasing Lifelike on the Windmark Records label.

Bottom Line:  Lifelike is another fine chapter in Marquart’s singer-songwriter catalog. He takes us through a collection of thirteen songs of well-conceived lyrics and catchy melodies. “More Than This” has a haunting opening with guitar bends. Marquart’s singing is quiet and under-spoken, which fits the mood of the song and lyrics. The hypnotic undertones, catchy choruses, and infectious instrumentations continue on the easy-going rock paced “Too Far Gone.” The use of many instruments supporting Marquart’s vocals adds depth and sophistication to the song’s structure and unfolding. “Don’t Wanna Know” has a soaring violin melody and a relaxed rock beat. Marquart sings a duet with vocalist Becca Byram. The two colorize and harmonize beautifully together. The recording quality is also of note; everything is warm, balanced, and lives on the sound stage in a very organic manner. In conclusion, Marquart’s years of studio work and building beautiful sounds and songs transfer to a stimulating listen with Lifelike. That’s the short of it!

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