J Michaels & The Wanna-Be-A Band – “It’ll Be Alright”

J Michaels & The Wanna-Be-A Band have a new record out titled “It’ll Be Alright”, and it’s one of those albums that feels like it was made by people who really enjoy playing together. The band includes J Michaels, Daava Mills, John Burkett, Josh Holland, and Brian Mjelde, coming out of Kelso/Longview. You can hear a mix of influences like Caamp, Bonnie Raitt, and John Mellencamp in their approach.

The songs hit on familiar life stuff, breakups that sting, days when you’re down, and those better days you’re hoping are just around the corner. The title track leans into that hope, and it’s probably the one that stuck with me most, and my favorite “American Beauty”, which is more about pushing through and not letting tough times win. Both tracks fit into the wider range of the album, which jumps from heavier, more reflective moments to upbeat tunes that make you want to dance.

One thing that stands out is how collaborative the whole process was, they even rewrote songs on the fly in the studio to match the mood, which shows in how natural the record sounds. Definitely worth checking out, and give these guys a follow online to see what else they release in 2025.