Songwriter/production house extraordinaire See Your Shadow, led by Michael Coleman, have released a new single from their “From His Mind” retrospective collection called, Take It To Your Grave. A Country gem by any other means, this song blends contemporary Country with traditional while infusing blues grooves and a catchy chorus worthy of Pop music stature. Take It To Your Grave is a clever narrative that follows a man who “You have a past with his Mama, A one-time indiscretion”. The result of this “indiscretion” is a boy who will never know who his true father is. This track dives deep into the secret the mother and the best friend keep and the ramifications to follow if anyone ever found out, “If you never say a word, A family will be saved, Truth revealed, Can cause so much pain”. Of course, this situation isn’t all bleak, from a metaphorical perspective, See Your Shadow offers; “He’s your best friend’s little boy, He even calls you uncle”. Wrap these thematic elements over a steady guitar melody, and a violin/fiddle harmonization See Your Shadow gives themselves lots of room to explore different tensions and releases around each cadence. Listeners are pulled toward the narrative, as Coleman delivers each phrase with precision and elocution, yet the underlying groove which carries this track needs to be appreciated as each set of twelve bars perfectly opens to new possibilities and expression both musically and lyrically. The highlight of this track, however, is the bridge section which hears the vocals go up a full register to deliver the final thematic resolution; “Conflicts unresolved, So many lives involved, Can’t think about yourself, Gotta do what’s right for someone else.” I have been informed this tale is for songwriting purposes only, and not a true-story, yet I feel there are many families who can relate to this narrative whether for infidelity or other skeletons left in the closet.
Take It To Your Grave, although written when See Your Shadow first came together, has been recorded as a new track. The emphasis given to the production should not go unnoticed. The overtones from the vocals ring out crisp and clear, while the musicality stays comfortably along its own frequency range in the listening field. This attention to detail, and clever use of mastering effects, (a global reverb, and slight delay), make Take It To Your Grave ideal for any contemporary Country, Middle-Of-The-Road, or Adult Contemporary radio playlist. Given the nature of the subject matter, I would be remiss to identify the overall spiritual and religious aspects of See Your Shadow, so this track would also appeal to Gospel and other religious media. Take It To Your Grave, although heartbreaking is still a quite enjoyable track. The vocal harmonies coupled with the tight, in-the-pocket groove make this song highly replayable and even one you can dance along to.
–Lee Callaghan
