Mason Jennings: Always Been
Mason Jennings
Always Been
(Stats and Brackets)
Mason Jennings has a rare, but important gift as a songwriter: brilliant simplicity. None of the songs on Always Been are complicated, but they are perfect, folksy, toe-tappers.
The title of the album comes from the track âPatti & Robert,â which draws influence from Just Kids, Patti Smithâs memoir about her time with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe. The song is a wonderful tribute to enduring love, particularly with harmonized repetitions of âOh baby, let go of your pain.â
âDreamingâ sounds like a song that could be a folk classic in the vein of Simon & Garfunkel. âDreaming of the day that youâd be mineâ is a catchy refrain, and this repeated line combined with some delicate strings makes for a definite earworm. Similarly, âSo Goodâ is a beautiful depiction of love that doesnât come across as clichĂ© or cheesy. Personally, I love âWitness,â the most for channeling the jug band style of country. Even the lyrics seem inspired by the Bible Belt, with the familiar question of âCan I get a witness in the morning?â Itâs too fun not to enjoy.
There isnât a single miss on Always Been, and that is quite the feat. For acoustic fans of all sorts, give this one a go.