In 2002, Mason Jennings released his third album, Century Spring. It sounds like he arrived in this album. He just sounds so confident. That isn’t to put down the previous albums, which I think are great. But it’s hard not to think that Mason Jennings’ life is going pretty well at this point. It all makes me think that I’m going to have to revisit this guy in much greater detail when I have more time. It’s always nice to follow an artist who grows, and that’s definitely the case of Jennings from his first album through to Century Spring. I’m curious what tomorrow will bring.
Today, we listen to “Living in the Moment.” I assume that it was meant to be the single from the album. It’s so sweet. It seems to reflect the kind of life that I want to have. I want to be the guy who tells everyone, “No! You’ve got it all wrong: this is the perfect life!” Of course, the thought of living in the moment with the friends I love sounds like something too far removed from reality. But it sounds like a lovely dream
But he is completely right that you can’t construct a meaningful life all by yourself. We are all social — even those who consider ourselves misanthropists.
Maybe my favorite album of his (depending on my mood.) And I’ve never heard a bad one (even if I haven’t heard them all.) Just some that have more of my favorite songs than others.
I don’t know if the album had a single, although your pick would be a terrific choice. It was a tiny little label. The song you heard on the public radio station around here was “Bullet,” which is witty fun. But public radio isn’t obligated to play singles. They might have just picked it because staff liked it, or because it references “Farmer MacNeil from the Hennepin line,” a shoutout to old Minneapolis streetcars.
Lotsa good stuff. “Sorry Signs” has the lovely line “all our burning battlefields are not behind us” while still being hopeful. And I love the simple pretty “dee-da” refrain at the end of the title song. I like it when songwriters aren’t afraid of pretty things.
His only major-label record was “Boneclouds,” and it didn’t do well (although I think it’s terrific.) Maybe the single “Jackson Square” was too confusing for dumb corporate radio programmers. Anyhoo, he went back to small labels, and I’m sure is happier there.
As I go through the albums, it’s hard to choose because they are very consistent. I’m trying to feature things that are a little different. Today, I rather wanted to do “Ballad Of Paul And Sheila” because it’s so beautiful and meaningful. But all of the albums I’ve listened to are winners.