The young D.C. trio going by Mission South is set to release their sophomore extended play, Migration Vol. 2. No doubt, these boys are rather proficient (and workers, too, as their extensive touring schedule can attest to). But aptitude doesn’t necessarily dictate achievement, and that’s where this particular band teeters.Mission South preaches soul and the blues; what we get is a mechanical child of Randy Newman and Lenny Kravitz. At times, it’s good, sure – “Saint” is slow, meandering roots rock that lazes and riffs on an old ballad as it ponders leaving home (a personal favorite) – still, the effect is as temporary as any sound come across on this short album. “Photographs & Fables” maintains the simple licks that embodied “Saint”; the immediate vocal delivery just creeps out of place. It’s not so much a bad song in its own right, but the track’s unevenness during its course muddles an otherwise promising skeleton.Other entries in this brief record provide less account. In the earliest moments, “Introduction” is pastoral and lulling. To follow, “Free” is clean yet provides little edge. (Maybe that’s the point, but the song doesn’t jump in any direction.) “Peaches” wants to play at Southern court with Kings of Leon, and the melody tries its damndest to inspire the impossible (for now). Rarely spectacular, nothing to find pressing issue with – seems to be the way on this player, I suppose.Finally, “Thriller” offers some promise in a solid last cut. (It could fit on Are You Gonna Go My Way if quarter need be found.) As the trio admits in lyric confession, they’re just living in our wildest dreams here, but who’ll fault them?None of this second Migration is poorly undertaken; Mission South might just be reaching beyond their station a bit too soon.
