by Robert Urban, August 25, 2005
Atlanta-based Mike Rickard got his early musical education singing in church and performing with contemporary Christian music vocal groups before coming into his own as a solo singer/songwriter. Not exactly a typical “pop idol” type, Mike’s positioning among young male solo talents might be compared to Shania Twain’s among her female pop star colleagues. Both Mike and Shania are more rooted in country/western’s tradition of real musicians playing real music; both offer a more down-to-earth, friendly aura as opposed to the lofty, distanced attitude of pop media stardom.
Mike’s country/western based foundation of fine, solid musicianship shows thru his pop aspirations. Additionally, fans who like a clean-cut, all-American image in their pop star will enjoy this young, strong, silent cowboy type. His debut CD is called Stirred, not Shaken, and although it does not contain much strikingly original songwriting, Mike displays an exceptionally fine, even-tempered voice, which sounds as lush and pitch-perfect at a pianissimo as it does at full throttle. Mike knows how to construct a well-balanced, viable pop hit ballad, even if his efforts are at this stage a bit generic-sounding.
To his credit, Mike has managed to hook up with the right people at the right time in his career. The technical production, song-arrangements, and especially the session musicians’ instrumental performances on his debut CD Stirred, Not Shaken are all top-notch. Most of the album’s songs are ballads of the love-lost torch variety, and are realized in an easy-listening, pop/rock/country crossover style.
I’ve seen this promising young artist perform live. His laid back, wholesome delivery of his sincere love songs is refreshing in this often superficial, image-hyped, career driven world of pop idol solo acts. Mike is also an able acoustic guitarist, confidently accompanying himself as he sings. I predict good things for this new talent who is just now coming into his own.