With Quixote, his twenty-second album, John Michael Hersey turns the classic wandering knight into a roots-rock character study. Blending rock, pop, folk, blues, and country, Hersey follows a South Jersey dreamer who heads toward the big city hoping to conquer fortune and fame, only to discover that his battles are less about slaying dragons than chasing impossible dreams with a guitar in hand. Along the way come a surreal acting troupe, a talking turkey, a philosophical sailor, and plenty of other odd encounters, giving the album the feel of an episodic musical adventure. Yet beneath all the eccentricity is a surprisingly simple destination: love.
“What Are You Looking For?” sets up that search beautifully with heavy guitar strums and slow, weighty drums. Hersey sings engagingly as he runs through the questions that quietly shape a life: Are we looking for family, escape, success, somewhere else to go? Rather than giving easy answers, the song lets those questions pile up, making the search itself the point. It feels like the natural opening to a story about someone convinced there must be something more just beyond the horizon.
Then “Shake a Leg” throws the doors open. Melodic guitar, splashing cymbals, and heavy beats create a lively groove as Hersey encourages everyone to get on the floor and forget their troubles for a night. It is a welcome reminder that not every quest needs to be profound. Sometimes you just need to dance.
By “We’ve Got Each Other,” the wandering spirit settles into something warmer. Its catchy, upbeat rhythm and soulful “ooh” harmonies surround a carefree message of companionship: when the weather turns rough, having each other can still be enough. At the end of the day, Quixote is about discovering what makes the journey worthwhile.
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Review by: Naomi Joan