American Romance is the debut EP from Michael Marcagi, a Cincinnati-born singer/songwriter who first made his name fronting alt-rock combo the Heavy Hours. Marcagi went solo in 2023, signing with Warner Bros., which released his first single, "The Other Side," later that year. Yearning and introspective, it introduced the acoustic folk-rock sound that helped his second single, "Scared to Start," go viral in early 2024. Both are included here, along with three other tracks that create a spacious debut of contemporary indie folk with vintage vibes. Strummed acoustic guitars, minimal percussion, and heavily reverbed vocals give American Romance a warm and dreamy feeling, and its title track is among its best cuts. Marcagis reflective songs are sonically scalable and could go in a more expansive direction, but the low-key arrangements on this EP are part of its charm. ~ Timothy Monger
Rovi