The manner in which Sean MacLeod writes his songs is so wonderfully intimate, and this song, Romeo, is an excellent example of it. Based on his extensive musical background, those early days with the legendary Dublin-based Cisco, and his experience with the former producer of U2, Paul Barrett, MacLeod has made a song that is reassuring and at the same time, invigoratingly personal.
What comes to your mind as soon as you listen to “Romeo” is the vocal of MacLeod. His versatile vocal style is expressive and lively, giving every word a soul and making a song that would otherwise be a simple pop-rock track seems truly touching. His voice is authentic, and it makes you lean in trying to catch what he is saying because it sounds like he is telling you something personal and not like a show.
This intimacy is perfectly supported by the instrumental arrangement. These catchy guitar melodies run through the song with easy flair, and funky drum beats give it an upbeat base that keeps all the wheels turning with a definite momentum. It is warm, welcoming pop-rock that does not make too much of an effort–and that is just its strength.
The Beatles and Beach Boys influences of MacLeod are there, but never does one get the feeling that Romeo is a derivative song. Rather, it is the validation of the ability of those old-fashioned sensibilities to be redirected through the prism of modernism and still to be emotionally relatable. The form of the song is welcoming to the simplicity without compromising the content as it does what is intended.
The most interesting aspect of the play of Romeo is its ability to be easily read and at the same time deep. Whereas MacLeod is credited with incorporating philosophical and spiritual aspects in his work, this song is flaunting its heart. It is the type of song that can be enjoyed both in a casual manner and as something to be listened to multiple times, as it is melodically enjoyable on the initial listen, but reveals hidden depths as the song is listened to repeatedly. In a world of pop overproduction, it is a relief to hear something human in Romeo, as it is a comfort that great songwriting is always reduced to the bottom line of connection and truth.
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