FULL-LENGTH DEBUT ALBUM REVIEW - MACKENZIE PORTER - NOBODY'S BORN WITH A BROKEN HEART
Today (Friday 26th April) will see Canadian singer-songwriter, MacKenzie Porter release her debut full-length album called Nobody's Born With A Broken Heart which is made up of 19 songs.
Easy To Miss begins with soft guitar instrumental complimenting MacKenzie's crisp tones beautifully. There is so much vulnerability with the song's lyrics. The chorus is beautifully written due to it being filled with a lot of warmth amongst all of the heartbreak. Easy To Miss is based on a lot of experience which makes for some fantastic listening with many layers thanks to its touching lyrics, the hurt you use is brilliant and great how MacKenzie has tapped into her vulnerability for this song. The softer vocal tones within the songs final verse and chorus are brilliantly beautiful.
Young At Heart is one of those songs that I think a lot of people will be able to resonate with as it's one of those songs that listeners in their 20's will get and mixed with her crisp tone makes for the perfect blend. The vulnerability of being in a relationship when it breaks down, but still wanting to be friends is one of those tough decisions to make but sometimes it works out for the better. Still wanting to be friends also hits you differently as sometimes the memories are good, however, in your younger years you don't know how to accept their friendship after the relationship ends. The chorus for me is the part of the song that you can hear MacKenzie writing from her heart. However, the second verse is the verse that got me the most as it is a rather emotional one.
Bet You Break My Heart is one incredible song. The storytelling throughout is great, as a listener the lyrics are great as you can hear many different vocal tones allowing her to deliver many standout moments. The chorus is filled with a lot of vulnerability when you know someone is gonna break your heart in the relationship, but want to give it a go anyway. The second verse adds another layer with MacKenzie's soft vocal tones coming through. The vulnerability throughout is brilliant - so much honesty. MacKenzie, thank you for writing such a great song.
The first verse of Pay Me Back in Change is filled with such purity that allows for the heartbreak to come through. MacKenzie is one powerful songwriter with the chorus demonstrating this perfectly due to the emotions involved and the vulnerability MacKenzie has drawn on. The hurt that is shown within Pay Back In Change is brilliant to hear. You have to enjoy the different meanings of "change" that MacKenzie draws on within the song meaning for each verse to have a different one. The final verse for me is the best one thanks to MacKenzie different vocal tones.
Rough Ride For A Cowboy has an upbeat tempo which is brilliant and breaks up the album fantastically as listeners are let in to another side of who MacKenzie is as an artist. I really like the country feel as it lets you into the fun side of MacKenzie's songwriting which for me is fantastic and makes me enjoy MacKenzie's music even more. The chorus is filled with a lot of catchiness that made me want to learn the lyrics and sing along. The softer tones in the bridge saw the meaning behind the lyrics shine through. Less Is More which is track 16 shares the same message and meaning it makes since to merge the two.
Going Home To You starts with a guitar instrumental that is complimented by MacKenzie's soft honest lyrics about our homes and what the meaning is for us behind them - in this case it's about the people that make our house a home. The lyrics are written from a place of happiness and the chorus is beautifully written filled with great connections. Be grateful for what you have especially the people you call your family as the second verse continues to tell us. The vocal delivery from MacKenzie is stunning throughout allowing for many wonderful moments to be shown.
Strong Things showcases MacKenzie's crisp vocal tones with the first verse having a wonderfully strong feel from her crisp vocal tones setting the song up fantastically as the songwriting is determined brilliantly throughout. The lyrics within the chorus are cleverly written, however at times you can hear some vulnerability something I love hearing as you learn so much about the artists when they do this. The second verse is great as it bonds the song fantastically together.
Confession begins with a soft piano with an instrumental supporting MacKenzie's soft tones beautifully with is filled with a lot of emotion especially during the first verse. The lyrics are brilliantly written throughout allowing for some beautiful storytelling to be delivered as the writing lets you in. The chorus brings Confession together and blends into every verse wonderfully as it's filled with so much honesty thanks to the emotional lyrics.
Wrong One Yet has a soft guitar instrumental to open which is brilliant and supports the song wonderfully throughout. The lyrics of the first verse feel like a letter to her mum about her relationship filled with so much honesty that at times feels very heartfelt especially as the chorus comes in with many wonderful moments that I have a feeling a lot of listeners will enjoy listening to. The storytelling from MacKenzie is fantastically showcased as the song progresses as you can hear how grateful MacKenzie is for everything.
Photo Courtesy of Big Loud Records
Pickup starts with a funky instrumental that I caught myself loving right from the start, and even more so as the first verse kicked in with MacKenzie's upbeat vocal displaying a different side of who she is as an artist with the fun loving side. The journey that the song's lyrics take you on is something that I happen to love and think will get many listeners listening carefully to every single word. The chorus features many catchy lyrics allowing for us listeners to have our own interruption of the lyrics making it even more special. It has a proper road trip feel that I adore. The second verse continues with another take on the lyrics bringing in the relationship side that I didn't even see coming which takes you to a point that I wasn't expecting but it allowed for this amazing moment. MacKenzie's vocal tone is beautiful throughout especially as it goes into the chorus. The chorus ends the song allowing for MacKenzie to showcase her extremely soft and vulnerable vocal before she upbeat tone returns.
Nightingale begins with a soft instrumental that compliments MacKenzie's crisp vocal tone. The first verse is filled with such honesty that you can hear a different side of MacKenzie's songwriting which was wonderful to hear throughout all the verses. The lyrics throughout Nightingale are ones that just happen to roll of your tongue, especially within the chorus that are absolutely stunning. The instrumental before the final verse/ bridge was a brilliant break up as it leads beautifully into the final chorus which was a little softer.
Have Your Beer has a guitar instrumental which supports the song brilliantly throughout. Have Your Beer opens with MacKenzie's crisp tone with the very first verse making for some interesting listening with it being one of those that I just listened to very carefully to get an understanding of the songs meaning. The chorus was filled of many play on words that really got me thinking and this something I enjoy hearing. The story within the lyrics seems an emotional one the more the song continued.
Sucker Punch begins with a guitar instrumental complimenting the song beautifully throughout with MacKenzie's vocal tones. The storytelling throughout Sucker Punch are brilliant allowing for vulnerable moments to be shine through with the softer vocal moments. All three of the verses are fantastically linked allowing for the songwriting to come through. The bridge is beautiful selected with the lyrics and vocal tone from MacKenzie with the final verse giving us listeners a beautiful end.
Walk Away starts with a MacKenzie's crisp tone. Walk Away is filled with lyrics that are fun and sassy especially with the line 'you'll leave and walk away' allowing for the leaving of a relationship/ friendship for the better - change is OK. The verse second verse paints an emotional story as you can hear a lot of difficult times coming through within the song leading to what appears to be a different way of life to where you used to be. I really enjoy the catchiness of the chorus, but it was the moment that the up-tempo final verse/ chorus is wonderfully selected.
Foreclosure has an up-tempo instrumental beginning with a soft tone from MacKenzie that shows the mature side of MacKenzie's journey with her sharing what appear to be plans for her future. The chorus links to all the verses brilliantly as well as all the verses letting us into many different parts of her journey - sometimes us leaving gives us closure. However, it's the second verse that is incredibly emotive for me as you can hear the turning point for the situation come to life. This song is one of my favourites of the album for the songwriting alone.
Less Is More is track 16, but it's merged with Rough Ride For A Cowboy.
Along Those Lines begins with a soft crisp vocal from MacKenzie featuring some emotional lyrics that you can hear many experience based lyrics within making for some interesting listening. The chorus is beautifully crafted with beautifully heartfelt emotive lyrics that blend into the second verse fantastically allowing for the storytelling to continue. The third verse is my favourite as it brings the song together wonderfully.
Chasing Tornadoes starts with sweet guitar instrumental that has this rather emotional feel. The first verse sees MacKenzie's soft crisp vocal opening with lyrics that are rather honest and very Lainey Wilson style that I adore that allowing us listeners to hear another side of who MacKenzie is as an artist thanks to the fun side as the song continues. The chorus features many upbeat lyrics that allow for the fun side of the song to shine through. The energy that MacKenzie gives off is brilliant along with the lyrics allows for some amazing moments. The second verse sees MacKenzie's soft vocal tone allowing for the lyrics to have this fantastic moment of reflection as you listen to the lyrics closely. With the final verse being the chorus in a softer tone allowing for another emotional feel especially as you have time to really appreciate them ahead of the upbeat chorus returning to end Chasing Tornadoes is a fabulous way!
Nobody's Born With A Broken Heart begins with a soft instrumental complimenting MacKenzie's soft vocal tones very well as this is a song about new life and how our journey in life begins making for some incredible moments to be shared within her songwriting, You can hear the emotional connection for MacKenzie given that this song reflects where MacKenzie is in her life's journey. The chorus features many heartfelt moments with lyrics that make for some brilliant moments to be shown, MacKenzie's vocal tones are beautiful. I love the journey that the song takes you on, I have another by praise for this song! The perfect song to end MacKenzie debut full-length album.
You can read my interview with MacKenzie here.
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