I decided to take the plunge and buy this album, having read rave reviews about it. I was familiar with the single 'Oxygen', which is really outstanding and blew me away - it was so refreshing to hear something notably different from everything else that's out there at the moment!
I did not initially know the age of this young man and was gobsmacked to learn he is still only 19 - his voice, soul and perspective on the world are far beyond his years. He has had an incredibly diverse experience of life thus far, which is reflected in his music.
However, I have to say I am somewhat disappointed with my purchase. I had Willy Mason in mind as a male Ani DiFranco, and I really, really wanted to love the album because I am fairly sure that he has incredible potential, but I just couldn't. Obviously, 'Oxygen' is fantastic, but of the 11 other songs on the album, only one or two others really stand out (most notably, 'Hard Hand To Hold').
I think the folk singer/song-writer style of music is mostly an acquired taste, and if it's not your usual thing then you might be better off avoiding this album! It is good, but the majority of the songs are quite same-y, and I wouldn't advise that you base your expectations on 'Oxygen' alone. I am not sure what the follow-up single is, but apparently it is set to do very well, so perhaps I am no judge!
Watch this space, though - I think we can expect great things from Willy Mason.
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I think that you've summed up the album - although I think Our Town has to be the best song he's done. Oxygen got played too much on the radio for me to still like it.
tractor-boy 01.08.2005 23:28
Not for me I fear. S x
L0BSTER_QUADRILLE 28.07.2005 14:00
I don't think he's for me. Then, I quite like Johny Cash + he's folk/country ...
In the near-constant deluge of singer-songwriters to emerge in recent years, Willy Mason ... more
towers above the rest through sheer quality. Listening to the 12 tracks on his debut albumWhere the Humans Eat, you'd be forgiven for mistaking this 20-year-old na...
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In the near-constant deluge of singer-songwriters to emerge in recent years, Willy Mason ... more
towers above the rest through sheer quality. Listening to the 12 tracks on his debut album Where the Humans Eat, you'd be forgiven for mistaking this 20-year-old n...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...