This is the Healing

Having now a large enough fan base to support his music, Michael Knott used the third L.S.U. release to inaugurate his own label, Blonde Vinyl Records. Stepping back from the squealing guitars that propelled Wakin' Up The Dead, This is the Healing is a return to the dark, dour territory of Shaded Pain. The first lyrics on the record are "Uncle Keith is dying", and the rest of the album matches that pitch-black, pessimistic mood. Though it still suffers from poor production, This is the Healing boasts stronger songs than Wakin' Up the Dead, most notably the rousing, hopeful title track. The record still has a few unsuccessful detours, such as the would-be pacifist anthem "War and the flat-out bizarre "Hummingbird". But This is the Healing is still noteworthy because it shows Knott making great strides as a songwriter. "G.G.G." is among his most compelling numbers, in which he unflinchingly confronts bigotry and sexual abuse. "Suicide" marks a rapid about-face from Knott's usually bleak outlook, and the chorus finds him pleading "Don't die, don't give me that suicide." The songs are more singable throughout, the bulk of them built around a strummed acoustic guitar and simple drum machine. ~ J. Edward Keyes, Rovi