Mikal Cronin: MCII

With few exceptions, MCII finds the California rocker turning to acoustic strums instead of walls of feedback, jaunty or melancholy piano instead of raucous breakdowns, and gentle backing vocals instead of feral screams. In a recent interview, he called his music “aggressive pop,” but even the aggression is measured, like on the guitar solo from standout “Am I Wrong” or the glorious moment 45 seconds into another standout, “Weight,” where the distortion kicks in. Instead of inducing mosh pits, these elements incite little, pleasurable bursts of serotonin—the kind that gifted musicians performing at the top of their game can provoke in their listeners.

Throughout MCII, Cronin wrestles with self-doubt and self-betterment. “I’m dyin’ to get along with you,” he sings on “See It My Way.” On the pensive “Peace Of Mind,” he echoes Sha Sha-era Ben Kweller, pleading, “Say you want me / Say it loud.” Even the song titles themselves—”Am I Wrong,” “See It My Way,” “Peace Of Mind,” “I’m Done Running From You,” “Don’t Let Me Go”—ooze relatable sentiments for anyone who’s made it through their unstable, uncertain 20s. Now that Cronin nearly has, it’s tempting to wonder what he’ll sing about next. But MCII exhibits such an easy, enjoyable knack for pop songwriting that, whatever it is, it’ll almost certainly be a joy to behold.