By Grant Kelly, Reviews Editor

[Slow & Steady; 2025]

Key Tracks: “Holding on to Weight”, “All Hail the Clown”, “If I Could, I Would”  

Rating: 7/10

There are a number of factors that might convince me to listen to a given album. Sometimes it’s striking cover art, other times it’s a glowing recommendation from a trusted source. In the case of singer-songwriter Max Daniel’s most recent album, it was the offer of a dirt-cheap vinyl record via an Instagram post that won me over. 

In fact, Character Study is currently only available on vinyl. However, the resulting tactility of the listening process lends itself well to the album’s intimate performances and tender chamber music instrumentation. 

Read more: Album Review: Club 8 – Seasonal Echoes 

“Shades of Green” is a short but effective tone-setter for the album which features a lonely, arpeggiated acoustic guitar line, eventually backed by a gentle wave of string harmonies. The melody and cadence of the song is then reworked into the following track “Holding on to Weight” as a sort of motif, a technique seen throughout the album which shows an admirable level of care for sequencing and cohesiveness. 

Instrumentally, “Holding on to Weight” is tight yet subdued, with drums, strings, and flutes bubbling beneath the surface of Daniel’s words like a beating heart. The lyrics encapsulate the general sense of somber introspection that propels the album, made all the more memorable alongside one of the catchiest melodies on the record. 

“The Perfect Guy” is perhaps the most jovial-sounding song on the album, with the ensemble taking on an upbeat, galloping quality. Saxophones punctuate each instance of the titular refrain in unison with the vocals, giving the song an air of cheerfulness, even if its overall tone is still bittersweet. The twitchy rhythmic phrasing of the song also hints at some of the album’s proggier tendencies displayed down the line. 

In a similar manner to “Holding on to Weight,” “Stressin’” cleverly echoes the cadence and band unison melodies from “The Perfect Guy,” but inverts the feeling of the latter track to allow for a softer, more melancholic demeanor. “Autograph” and A-side closer “All Hail the Clown” address feelings of inner turmoil and inadequacy in a decidedly ironic way, juxtaposing lyrical imagery of fame and glory with dejected vocal performances and melodramatic arrangements that build and cascade in cathartic swoops. 

“If I Could, I Would” starts the second half of the album on an upbeat note, with a bouncy, elegant flair, and a sort of call-and-response performance between the lead guitar and backing strings. The song’s slightly off-kilter rhythm adds a bit of excitement and unpredictability, demonstrating Daniel’s willingness to experiment with compositional ideas. “Come to Heel” combines a similarly disorienting rhythmic structure with repetitive lyrics to hypnotic effect. The song also incorporates new instrumental textures that keep it sounding fresh while not straying too far from the established aesthetic. 

A couple songs near the end of the album, namely “I Was Late” and “I Prayed,” are pleasant but somewhat inconsequential. The tracks tastefully explore texture and dynamics, as is consistently the case throughout the album, but the songwriting and lyrics ultimately don’t leave much of an impact on me, compared to earlier songs. 

“You Needed a Ride” manages to end the album on a satisfying conclusion without overt grandiosity. The song utilizes rich vocal harmonies that immediately set it apart from most other songs on the album, with each vocal track being carefully woven in and out of the mix as the song progresses, giving it an organic, melting sensation. Despite being one of the shortest tracks on the album, the song has plenty of musical substance, and serves as a fitting note of departure. 

Character Study is an album that rewards patience with numerous moments of quiet beauty. Those craving honest, well-crafted folk music are sure to be delighted by what it has to offer.