I’m People – Hiss Golden Messenger

Nothing Needed, Nothing New

By Finn Wentz

North Carolina group Hiss Golden Messenger’s new album, I’m People, doesn’t break new ground or take the group's repertoire in a new direction. Strangely, it felt as though I had stumbled across some of the lead singer, MC Taylor’s, older material that had been collecting dust in the depths of the band's Spotify discography. I’m willing to argue that you could take any of the songs on this album and plop them into another—both live and studio—and they would fit right in. I think this indicates consistency in the discography rather than staleness. 

I was first introduced to Hiss Golden Messenger's gospel-infused folk music around a year ago, as it soundtracked a very memorable road trip up the eastern US. At the time, I thought I had figured them out, even after just listening to a few songs. I don’t mean that in a critical way, but rather that the band has found its niche and occupied that space well. People felt like it proved that. You’ll recognise some themes in MC Taylor’s writing pretty quickly—faith, doubt, connection, and the constant struggle to make sense of life. The continuation of these themes is what makes I’m People feel so fitting in Hiss Golden Messenger’s repertoire. In a music world where reinvention seems to be rewarded, they simply sidestep that pressure. This isn’t Bringing It All Back Home (1965); Hiss isn’t plugging in and splitting their audience in two. There’s nothing ‘new’ or flashy about their new work; it just all settles nicely into the welcoming and tranquil feel they’ve built over time.

‘In the Middle of It’ encapsulates the essence of I’m People pretty well. It drifts along before you realize you’ve been swept up in the current. About halfway through my listen, I began to feel the same sense of calm as when I listen to some of my favorite Hiss Golden Messenger tunes like ‘My Wing’ and ‘Sanctuary’. There aren’t any big political statements or controversial lyrics in these songs, and that is honestly something I admire. Sometimes music should remain uncorrupted by all the noise going on around us.

I think it’s safe to say this album isn’t going to rush to meet you. It’s there if you want to find it. When I first heard Hiss Golden Messenger, I had the same experience. Nothing jumped out at me, grabbed me, and pulled me in. I slowly picked up on new small things that I liked about each song, and that experience continued with I’m People.

If anything, that slow-burn quality ends up being the album’s biggest strength. On first listen, it can feel a bit samey—songs blending into each other without a clear standout moment—but the more time you give it, the more those small details start to surface. A lyric here, a melody there, something in the way Taylor delivers a line that didn’t quite land before. It’s not immediate, but it sticks. If you’re looking for new acoustic music, I’d say go for it. Give this album a listen. Give their other albums a listen too. Forward, Children is a great live album, and it's really cool to see how consistent the band is when they play live. Anywho, if you listen to I’m People, don’t expect anything monumental, but if you really dig in, there’s something worth listening to here.