Willy Mason
If the Ocean Gets Rough
Astralwerks (2007)
Listening to Willy Mason, it is hard to remember that the voice being projected through the speakers belongs to a youth barely twenty-two years old. His voice is a true hybrid, mixing influences of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and William Elliot Whitmore, producing a voice that is mature beyond its years. Accompanied by an array of instruments that help to complement his traditional folk roots, Mason plays music that evokes the spirits of small town America, referring to his mother as "momma," and creating a sound that is not terribly catchy, but refuses to leave the confines of your brain. If the Ocean Gets Rough forces you to smile while holding back tears, as it is as joyous as it is heartbreaking. The album opens up with "Gotta Keep Walking," a song with vocal stylings reminiscent of Springsteen's Nebraska, without all of the darkness and despair. With a rambling guitar and steady drumbeats, the song breaks into a triumphant chorus, as Mason recalls his mother's teachings with a viola as his backdrop. "The World That I Wanted" follows, weaving the tale of a boy that barely knows his father, but still to his own surprise, breaks down when his father … Read more
Various Artists
New York vs. New Jersey: Punk Rock Battle Royal
Crafty (2007)
Throughout the 90's pop-punk was an essential part of most punk and hardcore kids' record collections. Even those whose tastes … Read more
Pissed Jeans
Hope for Men
Sub Pop (2007)
Ask somebody why they like the music they like, and you can get more or less the same answer. We … Read more
Pissed Jeans
Hope for Men
Sub Pop (2007)
The music of Pissed Jeans is what The Wonder Years might have been like if Kevin had been born with … Read more
Asbestosdeath
Dejection, Unclean
Southern Lord (2007)
If you are at all familiar with doom metal you should no doubt be aware of who Bay Area legends … Read more
