Vincent Poag‘s latest album The Unknown is a masterful exploration of life’s complexities, a sonic journey that blends personal introspection with the deep wellsprings of American musical tradition. With each song, Poag offers listeners a glimpse into the contradictions of existence—its beauty and its mess, its fleeting moments and lasting questions. If you’ve followed his work in the past, you’ll recognize his roots in Long Island, his Broadway-influenced sensibilities, and his ability to weave Americana and gospel influences into rich, layered compositions. Yet, The Unknown feels different—a more profound, personal statement from an artist at the height of his powers.
Opening track “Use It or Lose It” sets the tone for the album, introducing Poag’s central theme: the fleeting nature of time. Here, Vincent Poag’s voice is both a warning and a comfort, urging listeners to seize the moment before it slips away. “Use it or lose it,” he sings, a mantra that resonates throughout the record. It’s a reminder that time is not only precious but also elusive, as if it’s something that slips just out of reach no matter how hard you grasp for it.
From there, Poag dives into a series of nostalgic ballads that tug at the heartstrings. “This Love of Mine” and “Oh What a Beautiful Girl” evoke the timeless sounds of 1950s doo-wop and crooning ballads, yet Poag injects them with a contemporary edge. His lyrics here are tender yet wistful, tapping into a sense of longing for both love lost and love yet to be found. The emotional weight in these tracks feels palpable, as Vincent Poag taps into something universal—an exploration of romantic yearning, fleeting passion, and the bittersweet passage of time.
But it’s on the title track, “The Unknown,” that Vincent Poag really ventures into new territory. Here, he takes us on a kaleidoscopic ride through the labyrinth of existence, inviting listeners to board a metaphorical train into uncertainty. The lyrics read like a collection of vivid snapshots: a twilight zone filled with “stoned misfits,” “armpit nosepicks,” and “thunder-ridden skies.” These images are disorienting but strangely beautiful, capturing the chaos and wonder that often characterize our journey through life. Vincent Poag’s voice drifts through these moments with a quiet authority, as if to say: This is what it means to live. To ask questions, to be uncertain, to find meaning in fleeting moments.