Drayton Michaels’ debut CD Low Stress in The Deep End is as gloomy as the weather in the city it came from.

The Seattle-based singer-songwriter released this CD in collaboration with the independent record label Doldrum Records.

Doldrum Records began in Seattle, a place where “the music scene is as gloomy as the weather”.

If not immediately apparent from the name, Doldrum Records specializes in a new genre of music that is mellow and somewhat dismal both on lyrics and the music.

Drayton Michaels fits right into this new genre of music with Low Stress in The Deep End.

His tracks are mellow and speak of loneliness, broken love, and being lost.

Although he is certainly gloomy, he is successful at avoiding triteness in his lyrics, and the CD is sincere in its effort to portray his feelings.

“Ghosts of Manhattan” and “At Least” are high points of the CD and are engaging tracks.

However, “I’m Not Waiting” sounds more like a bizarre children’s song than a track deserving a place on this CD.

The CD is successful in portraying Michaels’ musical talents.

His lyrics are original and he is clearly a talented guitarist and vocalist.

The CD also is successful in including a variety of collaborators.

These guest musicians include Dale Fanning, Mike Mussberger, Keith Lowe, Kevin Hudson, Cristina Orbe, Anyu and jazz legend Wayne Horvitz.

These collaborators add a diversity to the tracks that breaks up what would have been an otherwise monotonous series of songs.

However, ultimately I couldn’t engage in the dismal tone of the CD.

While Drayton Michaels and his collaborators are clearly a talented group, the CD lacks a sort of substance that could make it an engaging album.

But then again, I didn’t hear the CD with the rain dripping in the background.

Maybe this is a CD that needs to be listened to on a gloomy day when I am in a gloomy mood. It certainly does not help a good mood or change the way I feel when the sun is shining.