Blood of Man

Mason Jennings | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Brushfire Records
• ASIN: B002K52GC8
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,881 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the Artist

It all kinda started at Christmas when my sons and I were hanging ornaments on the tree. We have an ornament that is a little electric guitar and my six-year-old son was looking at it and asked, "What's this Dad?" I said, "What??? It's an electric guitar." To which he replied, "What's that?" Well, I was kinda horrified so I ran downstairs and pulled out an old hollowbody electric (that is my wife's), an amp and I came upstairs, plugged it in and ripped into "My Generation" by The Who. Well, my one son actually climbed me in point 2 seconds and leaped off my shoulders while the other one looked like I had plugged the lights on the tree into him. They flew around the room dancing for two straight wonderful hours. I got the point. I grew up playing only electric and it was like remembering how to be free. For many reasons, it was so needed. So I got free. The next week I headed into my studio and recorded "City Of Ghosts" and away I went. I wrote about the war and being a parent in "The Field", two topics close to my heart. I wrote about being a teenager and how heavy that time can feel and how it can shape the path you take. So, gratitude is in there somewhere. I wrote about doubts and fear, about God and Spirit, and about hope and possibility and things that are elusive and hard to name. I wrote mostly about them, and they came into the room like angels and beasts. This whole time I knew the record would be called Blood Of Man. I also kept hearing two phrases in my head during recording. Maybe you can decipher them, for I know not where they come from or what they mean exactly: "Do you remember when the world was young?" and "In the beginning there was blood on the lamb." Whew. I wrote about how hard it is to be 34 and be a parent and sane and married and true and positive and yourself and a man and funny and a decent person and a not decent person and human and in love. I turned the music up so loud so often that my ears rang every night. I wrote about death, of course. I wrote about life. I wrote about pain and addiction. And I let it flow and left it raw. I worked fast and I let my heart lead. I guess I have come to the point in my life and my art where I just want to make music that I love and not mess with it. If people dig it: cool. If not: cool. I will be making it anyway. I have to. I realized that too. By the grace of god: I have to make music. More importantly: I get to. Also, before anything, I am a music listener. So, this record has not been messed with in any way. What you have is exactly the music I listen to in my van and the way I have given it to my friends on CD-Rs. My hope is that it can help where help is needed. Music saved my life and I am so grateful for it. Thank you for listening. Rock.

Product Description

2009 album from singer/songwriter Mason Jennings. Concieved, written and recorded over the span of a few short weeks, Blood Of Man is an introspective look at life as we age and tumble through it. Says Mason: ''I wrote about how hard it is to be 34 and be a parent and sane and married and true and positive and yourself and a man and funny and a decent person and a not decent person and human and in love. I turned the music up so loud so often that my ears rang every night. I wrote about death, of course. I wrote about life. I wrote about pain and addiction. And I let it flow and left it raw. I worked fast and I let my heart lead. What you have is exactly the music I listen to in my van and the way I have given it to my friends on CD-Rs. My hope is that it can help where help is needed. Music saved my life and I am so grateful for it. Thank you for listening. Rock.''

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mason's heart of darkness, September 18, 2009

By 

B. Martin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood of Man (Audio CD)

What in the world has gotten into Mason Jennings? That was the question that I couldn't get out of my head after listening to his latest LP, a dark and heavy set of songs dealing with death, loss, murder, grief and all other sorts of cheeful themes. Not that Jennings hasn't tackled these issues before, just not so intensely and never in such a condensed set of songs. Past recordings from the singer/songwriter have dealt with issues such as spiritual searching, love, family, politics, faith, etc. But the music has always been upbeat and melodic. Things aren't so pleasant this time out. The lyrical subject matter is darker than anything he has ever released before. Songs such as "Pittsburgh" deal with a friend's drug overdose and the emotional aftermath while "The Field" looks at the current conflict in Iraq through the eyes of parents who have lost a child to the war. The song is drenched in grief and it's hard not to choke up when Jennings sings, "I don't want a victory. I just want you back". It is perhaps one of the most honest and effective anti-war songs to come along in quite a while; avoiding politics and appealing to the humanity within everyone regardless of their stance on the war. But just when you think your heart is going to break from listening to that song, along comes "Black Wind Blowing", a pitch black tale of murder and revenge between two brothers that will send chills up and down your spine. These songs are the heart of darkness on this album. They form a trifecta of agony and despair that is unlike anything the troubador has turned out before. The rest of the songs are stellar as well, but don't expect hook laden folk songs which has been Jennings' style. The songs here are very basic and they are not filled with catchy melodies. That is probably by design since that forces the listener to hone in on the lyrical content. As for the music, it matches the subject matter perfectly. Each song is stripped down to the bare bones essentials: guitar (electric or acoustic), drums and bass. There is no fancy polish or window dressing on these bitter pills. Jennings wants these songs to be tough to swallow. Indeed they are. Blood of man is a remarkable album from a remarkable talent. It's proof that Mason Jennings is first and foremost an artist who won't compromise his vision. This dark gem may not rank as his best album, but it may be the hardest to shake.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Give & Get Blood, November 19, 2009

By 

The Online Cowboy (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood of Man (Audio CD)

Just when I think Mason Jennings is going to "top out" with his previous release, he continues to grow and get better with each successive release, it's really quite impressive. This album has reinforced in me that Mason Jennings is now quite possible at the height of his powers. The music and melodies on this newest recording is really fantastic. To describe its sound I would use the word dry, not raw. It's really well produced and it has an excellent track sequencing. Another interesting aspect here is how Mason himself sounds. His voice is a bit more Lou Reed like and it really comes off well and fresh. It's so great to see Mason Jennings become another hometown great to Minneapolis.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars hooray for hidden gems!, October 31, 2009

By 

Elizabeth A. Woolwine - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blood Of Man (MP3 Download)

i have never done a review before but 'blood of man' impressed me so much and had so few reviews i just have to drop in my 2 cents...

i was on the lookout for new music and this was one of the amazon recommendations based on my purchasing history (m83's saturday = youth, michael penn, clear tigers, decoder ring). i had no previous knowledge of mason jennings but there was something ominously beautiful about the album cover. so i previewed the album. what followed deffinitely did the album cover justice. by track 3 i was ready to purchase.

the greatest thing about this album is that unlike its genre peers it doesn't try to be anything more than just simple, poiniant, melodic. sure some of the tracks have a point to make (the feild) but the message doesn't take away from the beauty of the song. 'sing out' melted my heart and 3/4 of the way through the final track i was eager to listen to it all again. its just one of those albums.

'blood of man' was such a pleasant surprise. its one of those albums you can listen to over and over. and i have. i hope more people purchase this album - i can't believe something so great has so few reviews.