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Willy Mason: If The Ocean Gets Rough
Willy Mason - If The Ocean Gets Rough - [Virgin Records]

2007-04-29

Willy Mason is the new wonder boy of the singer-songwriter scene. Packed with Johnny Cash's raggedy vocal style, a reminder of Tom Waits, and a hint of Dylan he releases his second LP "If the ocean gets rough". Proving that not all child prodigy grow up to be stoned and lost within themselves.

Mason (only 23 years old), in oppose to the rest of the kids in his class, easily avoids the common "sensitive guy with an acoustic guitar" pose. His songs don't revolve around broken romantic love, or a soothing voice and kitschy melodies. Mason dares to be influenced by artists that it is no longer "cool" to write in their style, though cool to listen to. A second note for Johnny cash, and even Dylan, which everyone loves to say they're influenced by, or listen to a lot, but aim for a different sound.

Willy's vocals, which not many can guess his age by, are backed up with straightforward and tight melodies, alongside genuine arrangements altogether creating the aroma of a much older and mature artist. This aroma is only strengthened by his rich life experience and feelings that ooze for his lyrics. He speaks of love, but not the one you'll find in the intimacy of your bedroom with your loved one, but the love for real life, missed opportunities, family and the casual everyday life. The same everyday life we are all familiar with, but only few can write a song that will treat them right.

Like most artists brought up in the nineties, Grunge puts its mark on Mason as well. It doesn't mean you'll find Pearl Jam guitars, or the well known Seattle "whiningness", but you can find the true character of that period in time. It will be found as a subtext under the folk influence that the album is shrouded in.

Even though there is a great distance between the genres, Mason blends them in quite naturally. Bringing the y2k generation backed by bluesy guitars, his adolescences floating upon semi-country bits and jamming bar pianos where you can usually find Tom Waits sitting behind. All of those combined in an inventing package. It's like the end of a piece of string, exposed for all to see, but once those who follow it get to its start, they will find generations of singer-songwriters on the other end of it.

After gaining fans from all over the world, including some more famous ones such as Jenny Lewis (of Jenny Lewis & The Watson twins and Rilo Kiley) and Bright Eyes, Mason's new album is here to recruit new fans to board the train. Maybe it's time for you to buy your boarding pass too.

Roy Povarchik



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