Michael James Douglas sings in a smoky, soft voice that is instantly soothing. His only accompaniment is a steel-string guitar and his own vocal harmonization, evoking what I call the "Iron & Wine" generation (though I'm sure there's a better name for it). "Distant Sounds" is a poetic confessional, emotional and raw, sometimes teetering close to the melodramatic while never actually going fully over. His loud voice is not as strong as his soft voice, but with a little practice, the two styles could fuse nicely and create a broader range of sound that could land him a unique place in singer/songwriterdom.