Lee McMahon (LMPC) releases his highly anticipated EP “The Lonely Boy Bar Pt.1” with his knack for great storytelling shining through his songs. Hailing from Rotherham, his working class background also acts as a cornerstone in which his writing is clearly formed around.
The EP opens with “Lonely Boy” with an initial hook that feels slightly Stereophonics-esque, especially with the raw nature of Lee’s voice. “Lonely Boy” flows nicely as something I would say is quite easy to listen to, with a nice diversity of instruments, in regards to the inclusion of the saxophone towards the latter end of the song. Everything about it works well in unison, showing a touch of great musicianship on Lee’s part. Due to the nature of being a solo artist, finding a way for everything from the drums to guitar to saxophone (and much more!) to fall so smoothly into place is definitely something to be admired.
Next follows “Joe”, the first of the trilogy of named songs in the EP. With many sudden and unexpected breaks, the track definitely keeps you guessing, especially with a unique mix of instrumentation, most clearly heard with the keys. Although it’s maybe slightly long, “Joe” makes up for this for being a song that is again easy to listen to, and has many unique elements to it that make it stand out.
Previously released in 2024, “Mary” comes next which is the first instance where I think Lee’s storytelling truly takes centre stage.. Now having fully established his sound for the EP, “Mary” shows skills that are only acquired through great experience in songwriting. There’s clearly passion, understanding and emotion fused into this track, showing how Lee has really grasped the ability of storytelling in his songs, something that takes a songwriter years to develop.
“Murphy” is then the final track to end the EP, interestingly beginning with what feels like an almost 80s-disco type of riff. Again, I think Lee’s storytelling takes a great precedence here in another steady going track. The ending of this song also stands out to me which I believe is a nice touch to round off the EP as a whole.
Overall, it’s hard to pick out any clear faults of the EP itself. As mentioned there’s a clear talent for storytelling, as well as a great understanding into what is definitely an easy sound to listen to, complimented massively by Lee’s voice. Perhaps the only thing I could say is that none of these tracks are particularly standouts to me, but in some ways, maybe that’s a good thing?
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