ALBUM REVIEW - MAN ALIVE - 'COLOURS'

Man Alive, I'm Music Magazine, Colours, Mark Prendergast, vertex music ltd, what are the chances

Man Alive, the new project from Mark Prendergast, guitarist for the chart-topping Irish band Kodaline, released the EP Colours on September 15 via Vertex Music Ltd. The five-song EP was a different direction for Prendergast, “I was just like a kid in a candy shop when making this EP. When you’re in a band and you get it right, there’s a confidence that comes from a gang mentality, and that’s great, but this was the total opposite. Just the idea of going solo was a thrill, but the songs always came first and drove everything.”

The opening track “Be Someone” is a moving ballad with lyrics that will hit the listener to their core. Prendergast’s passionate lyrics bring the emotional song to life as he sings, “The world was in black and white ‘til I looked into your eyes. The colours all came to life, now I see that a heart can be broken, most of the time.”

The single “Colours” is an up-tempo, dreamy pop song. The catchy track with an incredible horn section is a perfect summer love song.

“What Are The Chances” is a moving, introspective song that is a stand-out on the
album. The anthemic song’s powerful lyrics include, “So what are the chances that people can change, cause I’d like to think I’d do things better but probably end up doing the same.”

The pop song “Everytime I See Red” has upbeat vibes with a catchy chorus.

“Five Minute Drive,” another highlight on the EP, concludes the EP with sentimental lyrics, “…never thought we’d miss the mark, just let me find a place to park your broken heart.” Prendergast’s storytelling and beautiful acoustic guitar make this an unforgettable song.

Man Alive’s Colours take the listener on a soul-stirring, sometimes heartbreaking, musical journey that will leave a lasting impression on the listener.

Review by I’m Music Magazine’s Associate Editor/Writer Meesha Walden