Mason Jennings
Minnesota
Album · Singer/Songwriter · 2011
Mason Jennings has a refreshingly casual style. He often sings lyrics as if he’s throwing away the punch lines. He often jams as many words as he can into a line, and then sits back and lets the music flow past. It’s an interesting approach and it’s yielded many fine albums. 2011’s Minnesota is another intriguing collection. “Wake Up” is an eerie account of an artist battling a drinking problem that uses its unusual rhythms to make a point. “Clutch” sits at the piano and brings forth a compelling tune that suddenly blossoms with orchestration. “Bitter Heart” best illustrates the advantages of Jennings’ home studio. The song is a lonesome, dour tune that benefits from its sparse intimacy. “Raindrops On the Kitchen Floor” is the closest Jennings has moved from his minimalist folk roots into Beatles-like psychedelic pop. “Hearts Stop Beating” surprises everyone with driving electric guitars and pounding drums. “Witches Dream” even includes a little rapping. “Well of Love” throws up a mambo. Jennings has plenty of new music in him.