Life

When Zac Maloy fronted the Nixons for three albums, the band's sound progressively became softer and more sentimental as they evolved. They began with a bang, hitting radio stations with the hard-rocking "Foma." But as they wound down, the placidity of the songs on Latest Thing gave fans a glimpse of Maloy's incredible vocal talent. Now he's on his own and his first solo album continues the musical progression. His 11 songs, all of which he wrote and produced, are upbeat and catchy, but at the same time don't become repetitive. The guitar riffs aren't complicated, and other instruments don't jump out as astounding. But his words do. "Early Morning Phone Call" was the first single to get significant radio airplay, and it's well-deserved. The song tells a story of love and loss and is well-put together. Another song with a message is the title track, "Life," in which Maloy croons "This is your life/You only go around once, so get it right." Many die-hard Nixons fans will recognize the fifth track, "Lifeline," which was featured on their final studio album. It was one of the better songs on that effort, and, slightly altered, stands as one of the better songs on this album as well. "Grace" is another standout, though it becomes so quietly. It's a simple song and may not catch you on the first listen, but it will hook you. By far, however, the best track on the album is "Perfect Day." It's happy and moves faster than some of the other songs, but it's the best example of Maloy's talents as a songwriter. He sings, "I'll pick you up when your down/And I'll be the sun shining down/Any day with you is a perfect day."

Zac Maloy's first solo effort isn't going to climb any of the charts, but only because he isn't trying to do so. He enjoys making music, and that's evident throughout the album. He just makes good songs, with the Nixons and on his own.