Sophomore slumps, there's a reason why this is a term in the music world. Artists can sometimes struggle to follow up the success of their debut albums. Fans are hyped, critics may be a little harder on the music, and sometimes the artist will put all they have into that first release that they just have nothing left for the sophomore album. Then on the other hand you have those artists that are just so packed full of talent and ideas that a sophomore album is just another day in the life. For Quinn XCII, that's the type of artist this man is. 

Quinn XCII (Quinn 92) released his debut album The Story of Us in 2017 and gained the Detroit singer-songwriter some attention but didn't quite break the mainstream charts. Now with is follow up From Michigan With Love, Quinn XCII builds on what he started with his debut and proves his potential to stand with the big names in the regular top 40 rotation. 

From Michigan With Love is a collection of a dozen songs with a core focus on mental health, anxiety, and lost love; inspired Quinn XCII's own struggles. These days it seems like mental health is a tool being used by far too many individuals and has unfortunately become a slight fad. However, this album handles the topics in different ways that really pulls you into the music, and some how makes it enjoyable to talk about it. 

Standout tracks on the album would have to be the inspiring "Life Must Go On" and the honest "Tough" that features another great singer-songwriter Noah Kahan. The latter actually had me laughing because of how true and honest it was; lyrics like "you're not so tough, yeah you watch Eat, Pray, Love on repeat" and "I know that nightlights on when you sleep" call out gym rat guys that we all hate. Another song that really stood out for me was "Autopilot", just the second track on the album, the pre-chorus line "why they got me here, when can I leave" is so relatable for me and how I feel in social situations. 

Every song on this album honestly has something to love about it and I really could not find anything negative about it. As I previously stated, I think that this album could be that next step for Quinn XCII to really break into that mainstream rotation. This album is a constant head-bob and some of the hooks will stick in your mind making you want to listen to it again and again. The melodies on the album are absolutely incredible and the production is nearly flawless. 

From Michigan With Love was released on February 22nd and is available to stream and purchase all over the place, stream or purchase it for yourself

Quinn XCII is also currently on tour in support of his new release on the From Tour With Love tour, with Ashe and Christian French. The tour will be making a stop in Raleigh NC at The Ritz on Sunday March 3rd, tickets are still available for the show and you can purchase yours HERE

If you're not in the Raleigh area, check out the other remaining US dates on this tour that goes in April:

3/1 -- Washington, DC @ Fillmore
3/2 -- Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
3/3 -- Raleigh, NC @ Ritz
3/5 -- Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
3/7 -- Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
3/9 -- Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom
3/12 -- Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
3/14 -- Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live
3/17 -- Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre
3/19 -- St. Louis, MO @ Pageant
3/20 -- Chicago, IL @ The Riviera Theatre
3/21 -- Minneapolis, MN @ Myth Live
3/23 -- Denver, CO @ The Fillmore
3/25 -- Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
3/26 -- Boise, ID @ Revolution
3/28 -- Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
3/29 -- Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO
3/31 -- Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
4/2 -- Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
4/3 -- San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
4/6 -- Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
4/9 -- Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
4/11 -- San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre
4/12 -- Dallas, TX @ Southside Ballroom
4/13 -- Houston, TX @ House of Blues
4/17 -- Austin, TX @ Stubb’s
 

Follow Quinn XCII for more information about new music and upcoming performances on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and www.quinnxcii.com