From the moment the string quartet began sawing away during “Introduction”, the beginning track to PT Walkley‘s new album, Mr. Macy Wakes Alone, it is blatant that this is not your usual acoustic sing-a-long. Although Walkley is far from unbeknown to the music industry, this album is ultimately definitive of his excellence as a singer, songwriter, and recording artist. 
Characterized by a sophisticated array of instruments (string quartet, brass, flutes, bells, choir, saws, etc.) and Walkley’s delicate croon, Mr. Macy Wakes Alone creates three distinct characters whose stories are interwoven throughout the album. The basic plot-line consists of a rich record executive, his spoiled daughter and an aspiring songwriter/coroner (awkward, I know, but once you listen to “Audrey Macy”, you’ll realize the significance of the coroner in this tale), who is ultimately screwed by the aforementioned executive.
A fluctuation in tempo throughout tracks enunciates various conflicts in the plot line and with accompaniment from some highly-regarded musicians and engineers such as Sean Lennon (guitar and piano), Larry Campbell (guitar), Steven Bernstein (trumpet), David Campbell (directed string quartet), and Trina Shoemaker (mixer), the album is instrumentally and lyrically exceptional. Although Walkley’s combo of instruments, tempo and lyrics is rather unique, the tracks “Punch Drunk” and “Audrey Macy” sound stylistically similar to artists such as Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash (ironically, guitarist Larry Campbell worked with Bob Dylan and string quartet director David Campbell previously collaborated with Johnny Cash). “Introduction” emanates of acoustic pop glory that can be attributed to artists such as Devandra Banhart.
The fictional aspect of the album is emphasized by the ethereal additive of a symphony and Walkley’s lullaby-esque vocals, ultimately making this album, in a sense, the perfect “bedtime story.” I’d prefer not to spoil the ending, but it’s quite a riveting account of irony, the lust for fame and the familiar lesson: “Money isn’t everything.”
Tracklisting:
01. Introduction
02. Why
03. Audrey Macy
04. No One Needs to Know
05. Daydreaming
06. Coming Over
07. The Lucky Ones
08. Sunshine
09. Run
10. Calvin the Coroner
11. Evolution
12. Ides of March
13. Lonely
14. Punch Drunk
15. Magic
16. Sanitarium
17. Mediocre
18. Somebody
