Mike Doughty - Yes and Also Yes

Mike Doughty is kind of an anomaly. Listen to his work with Soul Coughing and you’d guess he’s a hard-edge cross between alt-rock and hip-hop. But listen to any one of his nine solo albums and you’d think that, while not entirely soft, he’s more of a have-guitar-will-travel emotionalist. The funny part is, when you break it down to its roots, there isn’t much difference between the two.

If you’re entirely unfamiliar with his solo work, think Cake, G love, Beck, Eddie Vedder (especially his Into the Wild soundtrack) and Glen Hansard (The Frames). Yes and Also Yes, his latest foray into the solo world, is a mostly-acoustic, non-complicated but pleasing look into this aforementioned softer side. The album is filled with introspective tunes that get back to his folk roots, while at the same time, not entirely abandoning the rock of Soul Coughing.

While there isn’t necessarily a stand-out track on the album, there are subtle and sometimes obvious facets of almost every song that make it original and pleasing to the ear. It’s the bitterness in “Na Na Nothing,” the delayed strings in “Dive into the Un,” and the contrast of the hip hop verse and Jack Johnson-like chorus of “Day by Day” (not to mention the sweet and subtle Rhodes accents).

With sleigh bells and a duet with Rosanne Cash, “Holiday (What Do You Want?)” has the makings of a traditional Christmas tune, but amazingly it’s not. The blend is just right to instead make it feel appropriate right where it is, in this middle of an album that is anything but Christmassy. And to follow it with the driving drums and punk guitar of “Strike the Motion” and “Have at it,” he clearly doesn’t just want to hem and haw over sappy memories.

It’s comforting to know that Doughty has admitted that “Makelloser Mann” is “just a bunch of random, peculiar phrases,” since that’s all it sounds like anyway. But “The Huffer and the Cutter” is a little clearer, bringing back that bitterness and resentment we heard at the beginning. “Telgenic Exes, #1 (Hapless Dancers),” along with its later partner, are the only true solo tracks on the album. They’re also where the Vedder characteristics really come through.

So very close to the end, “Vegetable” lays down some surprising funk that is almost the perfect combo of solo Doughty and Soul Coughing. And closing with the second of the “Telgenic Exes,” is a good way to bring it back down and send it off with just Doughty and a 12-string.

It’s rare that you can listen to a solo/acoustic album and come to the conclusion that it really will appeal to most musical preferences. There’s truly something for everyone in Yes and Also Yes, with a blending of folk, rock, hip hop, punk, and funk throughout. At some points it’s in the forefront and at others dancing in the background, but it’s there nonetheless. And while it’s often hard to be blown away with originality on a solo album like this, Doughty tries his best and does manage to show some inventiveness. So, whether you love or hate Soul Coughing or haven’t heard of it or Doughty, take time to give Yes and Also Yes a try. I bet you’ll find something you like.

Rating
Overall: 3.5/5
Originality: 3.5/5
Production: 3/5
Listenability: 4/5