Search - Mem Shannon :: Spend Some Time With Me

It's always a pleasure to listen to an artist who takes a genuine delight in what he does. That only partially explains the appeal of Mem Shannon, who has, in addition to enthusiasm, a very significant talent. The New Orleans-based singer and guitarist, who was a cabdriver prior to the release of his debut album, Cab Driver's Blues, in 1995, just gets better with every outing. Shannon's mix of sophistication and familiarity is a potent one; he's a skillful guitar player with a rich, soulful voice who tells a story with every song, turning the listener into an appreciative confidante. On Spend Some Time with Me, for instance, he touches on socioeconomic segregation in America ("Who Are They"), the music business ("Paying My Dues," which includes the telling line "If you were 15 years old, I could make you a star"), and gang violence ("Pray for the Children"); slavery in America and its consequences are the subjects of "The Last Time I Was Here (Millennium Blues)." Shannon's observations are insightful and intelligent, without ever sounding preachy, and are backed up with solid music that mixes in touches of funk, soul, and old-style New Orleans blues. Without a doubt, Mem Shannon is an artist who bears watching. --Genevieve Williams