Marshall Thomas – Slow Bliss (Album Review)

Marshall Thomas’ Slow Bliss gave me a reason to sit down and be vulnerable.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. Reality Is Blue And Green

“Reality Is Blue And Green” is about examining your life through memories, dreams, fantasies, and the constant desire for peace and happiness. Rather than ignoring reality, the song asks you to search for the color and light inside it.

The track’s gentle sound and refreshing simplicity quiet your thoughts and might inspire you to put the phone down, go outside, and touch some grass.

4. I Am Not Afraid

“I Am Not Afraid” reminds us that bravery does not require pretending the past never hurt. You can recognize everything you have endured, confront the demons still following you, and continue working toward healing. When it’s all said and done, the song celebrates resilience, inner strength, and kindness, showing how those qualities can help you grow and eventually find peace.

3. My Little Moon

One of the most beautiful things about “My Little Moon” is how many different meanings it can hold. It could be about looking back at your younger self, embracing your inner child, and appreciating how much you have grown. You are not the person you once were, and you will continue changing as life moves forward.

As a parent, though, I heard something else entirely. The song made me think about watching my children grow, gain independence, and slowly reveal their individual personalities. You desperately want to keep them close, protect them from pain, and make sure nothing bad ever reaches them. However, loving them also means allowing them to explore, make mistakes, spread their wings, and discover the world independently.

My daughter’s name means “moon,” so this song connected with me in an especially personal and emotional way.

2. Hey Old Tree

“Hey Old Tree” is about losing your connection with nature and trying to find your way back to something real. It speaks to those moments when life becomes so difficult that you need to be reminded of the beauty around you and why your existence still matters. There is something incredibly grounding about the song. Through every musical ebb and flow, you can feel both the pain of living in the present and the determination required to keep moving toward a better future.

1. Snowflakes and Rainbows

Sometimes, when the moon comes out and the world quiets down, I like to sit with myself and look back at my day. I look back at the things I’ve done and wonder if, at any point, I made a positive impact. This song reminds me that I am impactful just by existing. Filled with affirmations and words of encouragement, “Snowflakes and Rainbows” reminds me that it is a blessing to just be. Life is beautiful, and so am I.

SONG BY SONG RATING

Snowflakes and Rainbows (4.5/5)

My Little Moon (4/5)

Déjà vu (4/5)

Hey Old Tree (4.5/5)

The Wolf (4/5)

Drum Drum (3.5/5)

Reality Is Blue And Green (4/5)

Waterfall Song (4/5)

The Mystical (Slow Bliss) (4/5)

Release The Witches (3/5)

I Am Not Afraid (4/5)

RGM RATING

If you know me, you know my reviews are usually kind of silly and pretty unserious. With Marshall Thomas’ Slow Bliss, however, I’d like to take this opportunity to sit down and be real with you.

Slow Bliss gave me moments of peace and encouragement in a way that I didn’t know I needed. Marshall’s soothing, kind, hopeful words go straight to the chest. He paints vivid imagery of the world’s beauty and the positivity of life itself in a way that truly resonates, sits with you, and stays with you.

I had to pause several times throughout this album to wipe my tears. And, to be clear, it’s not that the songs are particularly miserable. It’s the places in your mind that each track takes you. “Snowflakes and Rainbows” forced me to reflect on the fact that I don’t speak kindly enough to myself, and made me realize that, as humans, many of us shy away from openly expressing love or admiration the way we maybe should. “My Little Moon” immediately made me think of my kids and the experience of watching them learn, grow, and become their individual selves every single day.

Slow Bliss is sonically very indie and folksy. It’s simple drums, natural tones, acoustic strings, and soft melodies that are deeply relaxing to the spirit. Lyrically, this album dives deep into life. Every molecule of life is discussed, from deep thoughts about our souls, our relationship with ourselves, death, and nature, to how we communicate with ourselves and others. There are moments of struggle, trauma, and facing inner demons, but there are also moments that make you realize how magical existence actually is. It’s honestly mind-blowing.

Overall, this album was very eye-opening for me. This is an album I can play for my kids and know that they would understand, catch on, and learn something from it, but it’s also an album that completely opens your mind as an adult. I feel strong. I feel unified. And, I feel enlightened.

Thank you, Marshall Thomas.