By TJ Ryan
As you all know, Mason Jennings has been “Keepin’ It Real” for some time now. He has released six albums, all of which were completely written and produced by Mason himself. Over the last eight years, all his albums have been released with the Bar/None and Architect labels, which are independent record companies. This has freed him to be a very independent artist and release albums that meet his personal taste not the company’s. Alan Scherstuhl said, “what’s impressive about youngish old folkie Mason Jennings is the way he and his kinda bluesy, kinda jazzy, kinda McCartney trio makes rich, relaxed folk sound like something shrugged off instead of sweated over, like something fun instead of something whole-grain.”* Much of this was created because he was free to create a new sound with the labels he worked with. Mason also has engaging and unique live shows, doing his own thing and every once and a while, rocking to a new beat, as seen in this video taken January 2004 at the 400 bar.
Mason Jennings Video Covering Black Dog By Led Zeppellin (look out Luminus)
Taken by Chris Hagen
Despite independent expectations, this November, Mason Jennings signed with a major label, Glacial Pace. This label, which is sister company with Epic, is started by Modest Mouse front man Brock Isaac. Brock talking about his first sign said, “I just heard some of the new songs Mason is recording and am thinking that even if this was the only thing that Glacial Pace released, how I am just so goddamned proud to play a part in the release of this record. I hope that every time a record comes out on Glacial Pace I feel this good about it.”* But it appears there could be much anxiety among the Mason Jennings fan base that going corporate will affect the sound and realness of his next album. In response to these concerns, Mason said, “Isaac was the first person associated with a major label who I felt could relate to me as an artist and continue to let me make my music. No one understands better than Modest Mouse how to make the jump to a major without losing any artistic integrity.”*
Mason showcased a few of his new songs at his concert on December 10th for fans in his hometown (Minneapolis) at First Avenue. Judging from the four songs that were played, the album sounds like it is just continuing where Use Your Voice left off with a few fun romantic songs and a song about Jackson Square in New Orleans. However, the December concert was a solo show and the backing band may give the album a whole new feel.
The lyrics to Where Has The Music Gone? (http://www.birdwingsbeat.com/lyrics) which is one of Jennings unreleased songs is very telling to the subject.
“one day you will say
where has the music gone
you’ll turn on your radio only to find
it’s all been replaced by dollar signs
and you’ll still find us
kicking out the rock down on first avenue
you can do your best to try and put up a fight
it won’t do no good because the vibe is too tight”
The record label is big time and so is Mason, but fans are rooting for his music to remember its roots and so far so good. Mason Jennings is currently recording with producer Noah Georgeson from the band The Pleased, Joanna Newsom who is a harp player, and Devendra Banhart who is described as a “neo psych/folk hippie artist” in Minnesota. It is unclear how involved these other artists are or if they are just helping with production. Nonetheless fans are eagerly waiting an early 2006 release date.