The Beat Surrender

Sixth album from American Mason Jennings, his first on friend and touring buddy Jack Johnson’s label Brushfire Records. While not nearly as well known as Jack Johnson or any other of the very similar recording artists he is just as good (or perhaps just the same??).

All the tracks on this easy to listen album cause little offence perhaps with the exception of I Love You And Buddha Too, which has to be the very worst thing I have had to listen to in quite a while. From the silly lyrics to the happy claps to the canned applause at the end. However this apart I liked this album especially his recent single Fighter Girl.

Your New Man sounds very Johnny Cash, almost spoken lyrics, can imagine this goes down well live but as a recording sounded a little false. I love a bit of harmonica so had to like Memphis Tennessee, like so much of this album I bet it will sound much better live with a bit of audience participation.

Other stand out’s for me were Going back to New Orleans and How Deep Is That River, both very country influenced but without any silly gimmicks. Mason Jennings has one of those strange voices, sounds like its a bit off tune, just a bit wobbly but so catchy all this is easily forgiven and forgotten.

The tempo picks up for Soldier Boy, loved this track, happy and jolly it bounces along at a good pace. Much slower was My Perfect Lover, but still a good to listen to track. Liked the jazzy piano intro for In Your City, for this track Mason Jennings almost talks his way through the track.

Now you don’t normally get a bonus track on a promo but this one had a real wild card track added on the end the oddly named Sassafras’s. Totally different to the rest of the album, fast paced, weird lyrics but for me amazing, loved it.

I liked most of the album and really liked a small part of it. Cant see this will raise Mason Jennings’ profile much, but it will go down well with his loyal band of followers. I imagine this won’t bother him too much he seems happier to be doing what he enjoys rather than what will sell.