Customer Reviews

Shot Down Satellites

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This new Wide Mouth Mason album is absolutely fantastic. It starts off with four super-high-energy songs that are highlighted by some thick, revved-up slide guitar. This is the signature Wide Mouth Mason sound, but a lot more straight ahead and energetic than we're used to. Those first four tracks are awesome. Don't get me wrong, the rest is as well, but the energy and that ferocious slide guitar on the opening four is completely contagious. I haven't taken this CD out of my car in the week that I've had it. BUY THIS CD, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

Now for the problems (not with the music of course!). In an age where image rules over substance it is obvious that this band has been constantly struggling to keep their heads above water. They've been through the wringer that is the Canadian music industry. It doesn't matter how good you are. These guys have been improperly marketed for years under their former "record company", Warner Music. This horrendous label tried to market them as a hip-hop act and a teeny-bopper act, among other things. This has left them with an admittedly loyal fanbase, but also one that is small and mostly comprised of prude young girls and effeminate males. Completely the wrong audience for a jammy blues-rock band that sings about smoking pot and one night stands (among other things of course!). In order to survive these guys NEED to get their music to the American jamband fans that will embrace and really appreciate their music. They need to play jammy festivals such as the Bonnaroo festival and really penetrate that scene. A tour opening for Ben Harper in the US would be exactly what these guys need. Or perhaps a stint with The Black Crowes, warming up the stage for the bros Robinson in the marijuana smoke filled auditoriums they play for beer drinking, magic mushroom swallowing, hallucinating audiences. That is where Wide Mouth Mason needs to be, and until they find somebody who can open these doors for them I'm afraid they will never get the recognition that their music so rightly deserves.

This CD is awesome. Keep playing that slide Shaun!

Another new discovery for me. Very fun music- at times blues rock, at times more pop rock, but always with great guitar hooks and rhythym. Hard to compare to other bands...they kinda remind me of a bluesier edgier Maroon 5 at times, at times the lead singer's voice can even approach a Jeff Buckley sound. Also, they kinda remind me of 2 other great somewhat unknown artists, Hamilton Loomis, and especially Josh Clayton Felt (like Buckley and Kevin Gilbert, sadly deceased. I will probably own all thier discs by the end of this year!

Shaun Verreault is the most amazing guitarist you've never heard of. I read that Ray Charles heard Wide Mouth Mason play the 1997 Montreux Jazz Festival ("oh mother" is on youtube) and proclaimed, "that kid can flat out PLAY."

Let me start by saying I love Rush. They are sort of the standard when comparing Canadian talent. But I must say that I love Wide Mouth Mason more. Shaun combines the blues and the slide into a voicing on guitar that is reminiscent of Robin Trower, but draws on influences like Hendrix, Clapton and EVH.

To me, this album is heavier than the predecessors. The debut was a mix of blues rock. "Where I Started" was sort of the folk rock mix. "Stew" was the black sheep; not that I don't enjoy it, but when in production they start muffling drums going for that "dead" sound, it was sonically lacking (being a drummer myself). "Rained Out Parade" was Shaun's break-up/get-over-her record.

Any fan of good song writing and musicianship will really appreciate WMM's efforts.

WMM are one tight little rock outfit let me get that out right away. Also they are one of my favourite Canadian bands and have been since their debut.
However, their first two albums I liked instantly, their third I had to get used to (a little over produced and commercial sounding than the others). Then came Rained Out Parade with it's killer lead track. I had to put it away for awhile and come back to it but came to love it as well.
I am finding the same with this new release. The playing is as tight and rocking as ever, songwriting seems to be strong. You know what the difficulty has been for me? Well, I'll tell ya (thanks for asking)...it's Shaun's voice. He has an amazingly versatile voice that can do rock, ballads, blues, funk equally effectively. However, I keep waiting for his voice to mature and leave that high pitched, nasal sound and instead he seems to be using it more and more.....and more.
I gave it 3 stars because i like the album, i just don't love it - yet. With repeated listening, i'm sure that it will grow on me but that's what i think at present time (for what it's worth).