It has been a few years since Madison Galloway’s last full album release of Moon And Mercury (released in 2019); which followed her release of an EP entitled, Who Knows Where (released in 2015). A native of Canada, Galloway began her musical journey at age six, when she started studying classical piano. As a teenager she developed an interest in playing guitar and began composing her own original songs. It should be noted that she also plays slide guitar, harmonica, ukulele and banjo. Madison Galloway won the Artist Of The Year award in the Southern Rock/Country category at the Josie Music Awards in 2023. She has also received nominations for awards, at the 2024 Josie Music Awards, that included Song Of The Year and Artist Of The Year in the Southern/Country Rock category and Video Of The Year and Entertainer Of The Year in the Female Artist category. It is obvious that she is receiving a lot of attention from the music community. She has also spent recent time touring with fellow Canadian band, The Commoners.
Madison Galloway’s newest album (released on June 28, 2024) is self-titled, Madison Galloway, and contains ten original songs (written or co-written by Galloway) and one cover song. The whole collection showcases her musicianship, writing ability and exceptional vocals. The music may lean more toward the rock genre than blues at times; but it is a great selection of some really solid, hard hitting tunes. Regardless of what category you place Madison Galloway’s music in; it’s great!
Madison Galloway’s self-titled album, Madison Galloway, rockets out of the gate with “The River”; as she sings, “Come down, come down. Let the truth be spoken.” This is a powerful tune with some great guitar work that highlights Galloway’s smoking vocals. This song is just a sampler that invites you to venture further into this album. “Open Your Eyes” opens with more great guitar work that reminds me a little of Ronnie Montrose’s opening to “Rock Candy” from the early 1970’s. The song talks about us, as people, coming together and doing better, in order to make this world a better place. There is a great ambient, almost spacey, break in this well done song. Track five of this album is “Devil At My Door”. It begins with a haunting vocal, singing, “I’ve got the devil at my door”, before launching into, what may be the bluesiest tune on Madison Galloway. According to Galloway, this song was inspired by a great aunt telling her about the great aunt’s mom warning her about whistling and telling her that the whistling would call the devil. Galloway sings, “Mama said, oh Mama said, if I ever catch you whistling again. Better get down, get down; get down on your knees and pray. I ain’t gonna have that devil runnin’ here today”. “Freedom” is another rocking tune that features some growling guitar work. A simple song, maybe, but one many of us can relate to; which is about finding freedom. The tenth track on this album is a cover of the great Jefferson Airplane song, “White Rabbit”. Here, Madison Galloway sings with the kind of emotion and skill that would make, even, Grace Slick proud.
Madison Galloway’s album, Madison Galloway is a great opportunity to introduce music lovers to her exceptional talent. This recording is full of hard rocking, upbeat songs that are sure to get you up and moving. Even though she has experienced some admirable success in the music world; I have a very strong, gut feeling, that we will hear and see a lot more of her in the near future. I look forward to what may be waiting up ahead for Madison Galloway.
The Review: 8.5/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– The River
– Open Your Eyes
– Devil At My Door
– Freedom
– White Rabbit
The Big Hit
– Devil At My Door
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