New York native James Carrancio, better known by his stage name Man Made Hills, recently delivered his promising, Americana-tinged third LP Promised Land.
Billed as “more like a compilation, than an album,” this back-to-basics collection of tracks spans a period of almost a decade of songwriting. “[S]ome songs I wrote 8 years ago,” he wrote on his Instagram, “and others 8 months ago.” The album reads as a retrospective of much of his life and career so far, and exists at a crossroads between his musical past and future.
Carrancio previously unveiled two of the tracklist’s standouts this past fall. Beginning with the thumping “Rearview,” Man Made Hills delivers a short journey of a song that celebrates leaving it all behind, seeing “the city disappearing in the rearview mirror.” The following single is a guitar-led romp that declares that Carrancio’s “Only Karma” is “[his] own from the seeds that [he’s] sown.” Both songs speak to the personal, adage-affirming nature of Promised Land, and are meaningful introductions to the LP.
Carrancio describes his style of music simply as “folkabilly and stuff,” which is a great way to describe the overall sound and feel of his new release. The project steeps itself in the traditional sounds and acoustic instrumentation of old-school country-rock. Tracks like “Who Am I? Where Am I Going?” and “Welcome Home” transports listeners to Carrancio’s unique state of mind, and highlight his talent in storytelling. The album as a whole is a nod to the sonics of the genre’s past, while also looking into Carrancio’s present pursuit of the titular Promised Land.
The latest effort from Man Made Hills is available now on digital streaming services and retailers, including YouTube and Spotify.
Cameron Landry is a former journalism student at The George Washington University, and a current writer for Alchemical Records. He’s shared a passion for music journalism for several years, and focused much of his reporting as an undergraduate on how independent music venues have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based in Washington, DC, Cameron can often be found at local concerts (and record stores!) in the district.
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