Search - Mason Jennings :: Birds Flying Away

An often overlooked album

Daniel Martin | Worthington, WV United States | 03/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very overlooked. Just look at how many people have written reviews of this album as compared to his others. Basically I am writing this review to contest all those reviewers out there comparing Mason to Jack Johnson. I am a little tired of this happening. They are not close to being the same. Let me take that back... yes, they both play acoustic guitar, yes, they both are males, yes they both wear pants. I should say right now that I like Jack Johnson, I like his music. He writes cool little ditties that are very infectious. They tend to worm their way into your head and not want to leave, but the songs stop there. They don't leave you blown away; they don't leave you absolutely amazed; the lyrics don't leave goosebumps on your arms. No, Jack Johnson's music is light, friendly and void of any real emotions.



Mason Jennings, on the other hand, has the amazing ability to write goosebump songs that will blow you away. He writes with such an intesity that is almost frightening. His lyrics mean something, his melodies arc over the songs in such a way that one might think that the song was never really written, it was just always there, waiting to be sung. He is an amazing songwriter. I also love his voice. I've noticed some people writing reviews saying that they don't like it, that he sings slightly off key. I'm not disagreeing with this. He does sing slightly off key, he also plays in a flat tuning, but that's not the point. It's just part of his charm. Look at all the amazing songwriters that have sung off key... two that immediately pop to mind are Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Those two made it acceptable for future songwriters, such as Mason, to sing slightly off key.



So no, Mason is nothing like Jack Johnson. And I, for one, am glad for that. (No offense to Mr. Johnson.)"

Can music be more beautiful than this???

Brian Ivie | San Luis Obispo, Cali | 10/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mason Jennings is one of those musicians you are referred to by a friend, one of those acts you just happen to catch because you show up early for the headliner you came to see. However you arrive, you know that you have discovered something special. His second album, BIRDS FLYING AWAY, is tranquilizing all the way through. His voice is a little bit Dylan, and his acoustic guitar seems too simple. But what is it that makes Picasso the most impressive fingerpainter in the world? Mason Jennings has that same magic."