Hiss Golden Messenger is the name M.C. Taylor has been recording under since 2009. “Terms of Surrender”  is his eighth album and he describes the songs as being “my therapy and my church.” The songs deal with grief and unease but , like therapy and church, they provide a way toward a much more positive frame of mind.

The lead off track was inspired by teacher protests against cuts in education in his home state of North Carolina, after chronicling the troubles in the world Taylor concludes “I Need a Teacher.”

Another song is written for his five year old daughter and laments the time spend away on the road.

With help from Aaron Dessner of The National and Jenny Lewis on backing vocals this is the most consistent Hiss Golden Messenger has sounded. With vocals that exude warmth and earnestness Taylor has taken parts of his personal life and embued them with universal truths making them relatable to anyone, whether in church, therapy or just listening to great music.

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