Night Diving (The Cost Of Growing Up)＜限定盤/Opaque Tangerine Vinyl＞

Oregon native Max McNown broke out in 2023 with "A Lot More Free," a poignant acoustic anthem that married indie folk pathos with country and Americana roots. Since then, the young singer/songwriter has continued down that path, first with 2024s Wandering and now his sophomore album, Night Diving. Commercially, hes marketed to a country audience, and thats probably where his music is most naturally received, but McNowns appeal extends well beyond his current base of operations in Nashville. Night Diving has its own breakout hit in "Better Me for You (Brown Eyes)," a gritty tale of obsession that recalls Hoziers bluesy pop as much as it does country music, where it made the Top 20. With his raspy voice and penchant for acoustic ballads, McNown splits the difference between haunted and affirmational, usually pouring a bit of both into his material. As a performer, he is well suited for pop music, but on Night Diving he keeps things grounded with an earthy twang that echoes the high desert where he grew up. ~ Timothy Monger