Lyricist Duane Alvens also known as Professionally Awkward, landed on my radar a few weeks ago with his new album “Run Down” and I am really happy it did. It’s a beautiful 12 track journey. Duane has so much skills when it comes to writing but there is also a lot happening around the lyrics. The melodies are memorable, the vocals have so much character and the production is polished and creative enough to make the full album easy to enjoy in one sitting.
I’ll be honest, what made me love this album is how honest and personal the writing sounds. Duane writes about heavy thoughts, mistakes, pride, pain, and the damage people can leave behind. The album also follows a wider story about a proud man who uses his mind and his past to defend bad choices until everything starts falling apart. That idea gives the record a great direction.
“Apocalypse of Truth” is one of the best moments for me. The sound is rich, the instrumentation has great energy and the chorus is just amazing. “Burden” goes in another direction. It is simple, gentle, and easy to listen to with a great rhythm and classic instrumentation. “Too Late to Cry”, brings some of the most honest writing and singing on the album. There is real weight behind the performance and it became one of my favorites.
What makes this artist’s music work so well is the variety. The melodies, instruments, vocal choices, and production ideas keep moving across the record. Duane Alvens has real passion and he knows how to build good songs around good songwriting. This album made me want to hear where he goes next. Enjoy and make sure to share it with your friends!
