My Mental Island

Demo shows exciting talent from group

Chelsea Van Baalen
The Advocate

My Mental Island may describe their sound as 21st century folk but it really is a band everyone will be able to enjoy.

On their first demo, the band kicks off with the self-titled song “My Mental Island,” showing listeners that it is possible to infuse a soothing Hawaiian sound with a folk overtone. This is a song one would listen to on a Sunday morning as the sun’s coming up and all they can think of is enjoying the day and a cup of coffee.

The more somber “Widow Woman” follows and vocalist Staci Huffaker shows versatility in her voice, taking the listener on a journey and soothing them. Her voice is not perfectly polished but it delivers the lyrics with prowess. By the second track it is clear that the band works well together, with none of the four members trying to outshine each other; instead, the members work to make their songs as good as possible.

“Country Cottages” follows, which will remind listeners of Joni Mitchell. The song is easy to listen to and the lyrics having a calming effect. Simply put, it’s a song to sway to, a song to fall asleep to and a song to put on when things get a little too complicated and there’s a need to unwind.

The demo returns to an upbeat feel with “Hot Summer Sun,” a song that will invigorate listeners, painting pictures of sunlight, rivers and all things summer. A fun song, it’s something to play during a barbeque; it’s a song impossible not to like with a slight blues feel.

Listeners will find a great relationship-gone-bad song in “How’d You Get So Cold?” It’s a song that is easy to relate to without the song turning into a cheesy relationship ballad. With its swift blues sound borrowed from “Hot Summer Sun,” My Mental Island evokes a 1930s sound with a twist to deliver it to the present.

The demo ends with a great wrap-up song, “I Love Days Like This.” Huffaker and company once again show their ability to transport listeners to a place where everything is quieter and the days move just a little slower.

Listeners will want to pop this set of tunes in at a coffee shop, a long drive west, during a day at the office and anywhere a CD player is available. In short, it’s going to be a long, hard wait for My Mental Island’s full-length album.