PRESS
"Minnesota-bred Young is a world-class picker who shines on 6 and 12-string guitar. There's something of the Leo Kottke style in Young's playing, but he also has his own sound, which draws from folk, rock, blues, country and classical. Young knows his way
around the guitar classics but also has a bag full of originals that jump. Listen for songs such as Plinko and Indio." Jim Beal, San Antonio Express News
4 out of 5 stars: "One of the album's [Parallel Play] most shining moments is Young's performance of the traditional tune Cripple Creek. It takes a second to get it, but it sounds familiar from the initial notes and truly hightlights Young's incredible playing ability. He'd be a great fit at Folks Fest." Brian F. Johnson, Marquee Magazine
"Parallel Play is not purely just Young playing acoustic all by his lonesome, some tracks include a drummer and bass player which really adds some jazziness to those tracks. They also are a little more fun to listen to. For someone more interested in the edgier stuff like myself, 'No Smiling' stands out as an angry and emotional track. 'No Smiling' actually made me smile . . . Young is a very proficient guitar player and instrumental songsmith, and from myself who at one time tried to learn fingerstyle guitar and failed realize his talent. His style and skill enable him to pull off an album that in most cases I would turn off after a few tracks. As for someone who tries to see music for what it is, I feel that this album is a great listen for acoustic guitar players and people who enjoy an easy listen." Rich Horton, Rift Magazine
“Impressive . . . fascinating stage presence. The new album [Live From Fort Collins] has a different feel from the previous one, I Listen To My Feet. The songs have matured to a deeper emotional range and expansive meaning. The intertwined chord work will take you on a journey from the lighthearted to the underworld of angst. My personal favorite, “No Smiling,” is almost symphonic in its frightening sound. You can imagine an epic movie on life and the difficulties of living to go with it. “Caboose” is sweet, fun, toe-tapping stuff. “Carousel” brings out the gypsy in me with its wide tones and sparkling sensibility.” Celeste Regal, The Observer (NJ)
"Michael was wonderful on Saturday night. Everyone loved him; what an entertainer. He was a great inspiration, especially to other artists. At such a young age, he can captivate an audience of any age.”
Julie Dregne,The Little Theater, New London, MN
“Michael's performance took the chill out of the air and warmed us up enough to set the Doom's Day Clock ahead 12 years. He was fantastic! A wonderful wit and very engaging stories that had our audience totally captivated.”
Mary Palmer, High Plains Public Radio Music Director
“Michael's dexterity, depth and tone will fool you into thinking you're hearing an entire string section instead of just one dude with a 12 string. He channels real emotion and range in his songs, evoking dozens of moods and sounds out of his instrument...”
Jeff Reeves, Arizona Daily Sun
"Young's playing stands out compared to less accomplished fingerstyle pickers. His songs aren't just songs--they're compositions." Andrew Mortazavi, Tucson Weekly
“He crafts evocative pieces that take listeners on flights of fancy as well as gritty trips.” Jim Beal, San Antonio Express News
“Michael’s debut, I Listen To My Feet, launches from conventional fingerstyle picking into energetic grooves. This Minneapolis based player is known for his engaging between song patter as much as he is for wrestling intricate rhythms from his six and twelve-string acoustic.” John Noyd, Maximum Ink
"In between slightly sardonic wit, Young wowed the audience with finger-picking poignancy, pregnant with depth and grace. His last song of the first set, 'No Smiling,' from an as of yet unreleased album, was an impressive epic piece that was as uplifting as it was ominous. Young is a new talent to watch; his career will surely gather as much momentum as his guitar playing does."
Djuna Lardner, The Kearny Observer
"The Minnesota-born musician’s work seems to defy categorization . . . the praise he has received for his 2004 debut album, I Listen to My Feet, is anything but faint."
Max Bowen, The
“Michael Young is speaking as loudly as his strings will allow. The Twin Cities based artist’s master of the instrument . . . inspires everyone from the novice music fan to expert guitarists. The energy behind Young’s music seems intangible. This guitarist is definitely one you don’t want to miss.” Brandon Knettel, The Cable Newspaper
“Young's playing is more on the aggressive side, and not as laid back as some other contemporaries on the instrument . . . But he is still always accessible and ‘user friendly.’ I Listen to My Feet is a fun album to listen to when you want to hear great acoustic guitar music. There's some serious reaching going on here, and Young (as well as his accompanists) have their minds set on being entertaining and provocative . . . You have a new artist you'll want to start paying attention to.”
Bill Binkelman, Wind and Wire
“Minnesota guitarist Michael Young lets his fingers do the talking on his debut CD I Listen To My Feet…Young never comes up short of interesting guitar ideas. Young also injects a dose of humor into his instrumental guitar music…Young shines throughout I Listen To My Feet and clearly get a great sound from his 6 string RainSong guitar and 12 string
Robert Silverstein, 20th Century Guitar Magazine
"Michael Young is a deft Minnesota-based finger-style guitarist whose CD [I Listen To My Feet] is all instrumental. Yet there are personal stories attached to each of the CD's 16 [sic] cuts. You can dismiss the stories if you wish and focus on Young's mastery of the six-string and 12-string. Young nicely varies the moods for each cut on this 66-minute album." David Steinberg, The
“The title of Young’s latest album, I Listen To My Feet, suggests that the beat is the prime ingredient. Young’s guitar creations are carried by their rhythms and are remarkable for their structure and the harmonic development that carry them. Young plays both six and 12-string guitars and uses a varied stylistic palette that dips into blues, folk, and turn-of-the past century popular music. . . His live performances are accompanied by rich stage patter.” The
“Young’s work on the 12-string is both gossamer and elemental.” Isthmus
“It's too bad that Michael Young's music doesn't have lyrics, because the stories behind the songs, as relayed through the liner notes of his debut I Listen To My Feet are damn funny and entertaining. Since Young is known for his storytelling and between-song anecdotes, the lyrics won't even be missed.”
Randy Ballwhan, The Onion
“I was pleasantly surprised that this was exactly the refreshing sound I needed. In a world of overly-produced, cookie cutter tracks and a seemingly endless supply of electronica, this is a throwback to simpler times. Young expresses a range of moods and atmosphere difficult to produce with lyrics, much less without . . . Every possible drop of emotion is squeezed from wood and strings.” Nick Murray, Just Add Noise
“It's hard to develop an original approach to a musical form as firmly enshrined as fingerstyle acoustic guitar, but on his debut release, the twenty-one-year-old Young makes a good run at it. The eighteen tracks combine his six and twelve string explorations with sparse, tasteful instrumentation and make for a solid span of quiet, engaging listening.” Marlee MacLeod, Mpls St. Paul Magazine
“[Michael Young has] created his very own signature. 'New Mexican Scar' is a top-notch guitar piece with a nice theme . . . and nice atmosphere. Further impressing pieces are 'Head, Point North,' 'I’m Sad,' and 'I’m Tired.' Michael Young is renewing in his approach to fingerstyle guitar, and he . . . explores and adds new directions to acoustic guitar music. Check him out on I Listen To My Feet.”
Henk Te Veldhuis, Bridge Guitar Review