Cameron McGill & What Army | “Is A Beast” | Album Review

Story by Mitch McCann 

| Published Apr 18, 2011

In an age of new YouTube internet sensations debuting every week and “indie” musicians playing stadiums instead of dive bars, it takes a special kind of person to do things the old-fashioned way. Along with his band “What Army’, Cameron McGill spends most of his time on the road, going from show to show promoting his most recent effort. Widely recognized as one of Chicago’s finest and most determined musicians, McGill continues to fight the good fight every day of his life.

In order to fund his latest labor of love, McGill launched a campaign through an online fundraising website and was met by fans with an outstanding outcry of support for both him and his music, with the album making nearly one and a half times its intended goal. An album funded by the fans for the fans, and What Army refuses to disappoint.

Is A Beast finds McGill and company at their best. This latest installment completes an aesthetic that is full-sounded, ambitious and clear, a solid footing amongst the tumultuous waters of independent music. Songs like "Counterfeit" - a jazz-addled love letter to the city of Chicago, "I Don't Believe In Magic (But All My Friends Just Disappeared)" and "Houdini" - a peek into McGill's grander aspirations - follow the singer/songwriter towards brighter days.

Straying from the acoustic twinge of his former efforts, McGill pushes the limits of his sound to exquisite and understated results. With writing that is as personal as it is fun, Is A Beast is a one-of-a-kind album. Finally we have a grass-roots musician with a true appreciation for fans and a respect for the process that is few and far between the rest.