Soul's Core

Shawn Mullins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 1998)
• Original Release Date: September 15, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000AG6W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (114 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,083 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Anchored in You

2. Lullaby

3. The Gulf of Mexico

4. September in Seattle

5. Twin Rocks, Oregon

6. And on a Rainy Night

7. Tannin Bed Song

8. Soul Child

9. Ballad of Billy Jo McKay

10. Patrick's Song

11. Sunday Morning Coming Down

12. You Mean Everything to Me

13. Shimmer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful guitar playing and heartfelt lyrics, November 17, 1998

By 

Rob Houser (Suwanee, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul's Core (Audio CD)

Soul's Core may be the first album you've heard from singer/songwriter, Shawn Mullins, but it's not his first CD. I first heard Shawn play at Oxford Books in Atlanta in 1993. I was walking through the bookstore and found myself getting into the music, then I realized it was coming live from upstairs. When I finally found the source, I was amazed at the richness of his voice and the expression of his lyrics.

Over the past 5 years, I've seen Shawn grow as a guitar player, a singer, and a person. Many of his songs are autobiographical, relating directly to his life experiences or those of his friends. With each CD, Shawn opens up a little more. His sense of humor and keen observations about people result in highly visual lyrics that stay with you long after the music has stopped. He paints pictures with his words that are as vivid as anything I've ever seen on canvas.

It may sound corny, but Shawn is as much a poet and philosopher as he is a musician. Sure, he's introspective, but that's a nice change from the empty teen-aged angst we usually get on the radio. What we get in Soul's Core (and the other four CDs Shawn has released) is an evolving picture of an artist struggling to find happiness and meaning in his life just like the rest of us. A better name for Shawn's band would've been Soul's Core because that is exactly what he spends most of his time trying to find.

Don't let the purity of his voice or the parts where he speaks instead of sings sidetrack you - this man is a powerful performer. When you get a chance to see him in person, make sure you're near the front. Seeing him perform and hearing him talk about this songs will make you visit them over and over again. And he can entertain. One time I saw Shawn cause an audience to explode with excitement simply by humming a heartfelt rendition of the Jefferson's theme song.

It may be because I heard them this way first, but I like most of these songs with just Shawn and his guitar. I think it's sad that we can't get acoustic solo music on major radio stations without the singer being backed by a band. However, I'm always glad to hear David Patterson and his magical electric guitar (the one that even sounds like a banjo sometimes). David is an incredibly gifted, classically trained guitar player who deserves a Windham Hill album or two of his own. For now, I'm glad to see him playing with Shawn. They have just begun to show us what they can do. The band is solid on "Soul's Core," although some of you might find it a little mellow. They accent Shawn's voice without overpowering it, and add another level of richness to the songs. I saw them in concert at the Variety Playhouse when Columbia picked up "Soul's Core" and I can assure you that they can jam. After the band spends more time together, I expect they will collaboratively create some more band-oriented music.

Shawn Mullins never stays the same. With each album, I find Shawn challenging me to keep up with his growth as a musician. I didn't like it much when he added the occasional talking to his songs when I first heard him do it, but then I started listening to the words and how Shawn sings them even when he speaks them. I must respectfully disagree with the reviewer who said anyone could play a guitar and talk - that's an opinion of someone who doesn't understand that music is not always a continuous stream of noise. Shawn can play a guitar faster and more masterfully than anyone I've ever seen (except maybe David Patterson), but that's not his only instrument for making music. He uses his voice and even the quiet moments between notes to make music that will weave its way into your soul.

"Soul's Core" is the album that introduces Shawn to the rest of the world (outside of his coffee house gigs). He will surpass it in quality and complexity. Don't approach "Soul's Core" with so many preconceptions of what a band should be. What you will find is purity in the music; the essence of song - insightful lyrics, expressive instrumentation, and a rich voice that will stick inside your head long after the music stops playing.

If you're into Shawn Mullins, I also highly recommend "Big Blue Sky."

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goin' on 8 Years, December 1, 2005

By 

Adrienne J "ElegantBaz" (Joshua Tree, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul's Core (Audio CD)

I kited this CD from my oldest brother while I was still in high school, traveled with it cross-country after graduation, dreamt about it while it was in storage during Basic Training, and savoured it once I got my paws on it again during AIT. After that, it found a permanent home in my car CD case, while another copy lives right next to my stereo in the house. It's a CD that has survived the test of time. From a brilliant cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", to everyone's standards of "Lullabye" and "Shimmer" (brilliant in it's own way), to my personal favourite, "Tannin Bed Song", this CD speaks of a life well lived thus far, and while slightly road weary, still has many miles, a few fixed tires and oil changes left.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soulful, Honest, Direct - A 5+ Musical Journal, April 14, 2004

By 

Christian E. Stilp (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul's Core (Audio CD)

After spending years listening to the widest of music genres, I continue to fall back to this album as my favorite amongst them all. I had the chance to meet Shawn when he played at Summerfest in Milwaukee years ago, and he is the most down-to-earth musician I have met, local or national. That made me want to dive deeper into this album, and I was not disappointed.
Shawn creates a musical landscape of our country, taking you through trials and travels with a sincere tone and engaging vignettes. San Francisco, Seattle, Twin Rocks, Kansas, Lousiana, trains, trailers, transcontinental car rides- you wonder where he hasn't been. And yet, it's basically one man and his guitar singing his heart out to you, telling stories that bleed with tangibility and emotion. He's ridden the trains, done the casual drugs, drank his share, and took the time to look back and retell the tales.
As for the music specifically, 'Lullabye' and 'Shimmer' are the better-known tracks, but the magic lies in the other tracks as well. 'Soul Child' overflows with heart and sincerity; 'Patrick's Song' translates tears and loneliness into chords and lyrics convincingly and completely; 'You Mean Everything To Me' makes time stand still with its directness and gentle affection; 'Twin Rocks, Oregon' puts you right on the train with them to look back, laugh, feel sentimental and chuckle at 'ain't life funny'.
I never grow tired of this album because it never fails to sweep me up and take me with it. Commercialism and intangible elements deny that power to other recordings of his, but this one is truly special.