Were you at Mason's first show at First Avenue promoting the release of his second album? It is one of my favorite First Avenue shows of all time. After touring around cafés in places like Morris and Northfield he finally has his dream come true: headlining the mainroom. The energy was amazing and Jennings was at his prime. He was on fire and almost in tears at the same time. This was, I think about seven years ago. I remember walking out walking out after the show and a friend and I talked about how huge he was going to be some day.

It reminds me about how falling in love and getting your life in order (and especially having children) can really ruin an artist. You can have one or the other, right?

I joke. Mostly.

I was! I was only 18 at the time and had to have my parents take me to the show so I could get in. I remember that feeling, too, I had seen him previously at the Fitzgerald and at coffee shops and colleges in Northfield but that First Ave show was special. There was a real crackle in the air, like something really amazing was about to happen.

19 JAN 2001 I remember driving with Aaron and my wife driving 2 hours to Duluth to see this new artist and we could not stop listening to this "Confidant" song and album the entire drive up. Since then my wife and I have been like Andrea and Aaron "die-hard" fan's, going to the shows to be part of this great new artist that we experienced for the first time together.

I hate to say it but with albums like this and partially Boneclouds, all those good times may just be memories. Yes there are some decent tunes on both CD's but I think Mason has gone to a place that will be tough for us to follow.

Andrea, you summed up my feelings on this up perfectly. I miss Mason Jennings as we knew him. Those days, with Rob on bass and Edgar on drums, were some of the first concerts I really ever had a chance to take in as a music fan, instead of just as a casual listener.

I will never forget the first time I heard "Butterfly," the first of any Jennings song I'd ever heard. I couldn't tell you who played it for me, or where I was when it happened, but I can remember the exact words I said, to whomever I said them to, as soon as the track finished:

"Umm... could I hear that again?"

Whoever wrote this review clearly has no taste for Mason's ability to branch out musically and make each album sound unique. There is not one song of his that I don't like and most of them seem to speak to me personally. I have liked him from the start and some of you don't seem to like that he is getting recognition, you would rather keep his music to yourself.

I've been listening to "in the ever" non-stop since Tuesday with the hope that the next time I hit play.....the arrangenments of the songs would just disappear leaving just Mason and his Martin. Being a long time Mason fan, I feel longing for the down to the floorboard feeling of Use Your Voice or Simple Life.....those albums are just more damn convincing.
I'm starting to see this album and Boneclouds as a bridge in a career that still has....I believe....much much more to share. Lets just hope it doesn't take as long as the time between Desire and Time Out Of Mind for Dylan.

Does anyone know what show "your new man" was recorded? Just curious!

I hate to say that I agree with Andrea. As a big fan of Mason's, I eagerly awaited the release of this new cd, and bought it first thing when I woke up Tuesday. However, I was not impressed with it, and I typically give Mason the benefit of doubt. Two more songs that I feel are noteworthy though, are Soldier Boy, and Memphis, Tennessee.

I think this is a really solid effort - different from previous albums, but as good and inventive as anything Mason's done yet. It is unusual in that it deals with religious and spiritual themes in a very direct and uncalculating way. I suspect this will affect how people hear the songs and how they feel about the album overall. In dealing with these themes Mason didn't take any cover (by using vague references to religious themes, or by using the language of a religion exotic to him), and he didn't avoid using words such as God or Jesus when those were the words he needed.

Mason doesn't sing as one comfortably converted (as Dylan did on Time Out of Mind), and so, is walking a wire of topics normally taboo in the pop realm without a net.

There are no duds on this album. Just cool Mason lyrics and melodies as usual. Mason is doing his thing, being true to himself, singing about what's on his mind in an authentic way.

Wow. This album isn't THAT bad you guys! lol. I have to agree with Brian. While I personally dig "Birs Flying Away" and "Mason Jennings" most out of all his work, I like every single album and 98% of Jennings' songs to date. For instance, I too thought this album was a bad departure from previous work, but then I listened again, and again, and eventually it grew on me. Now I can only find 2 songs I am not a huge fan of (Something About Your Love and Going Back to New Orleans). Music means different things to different people. I've only been a fan for about 5 years (4 shows- wish I could have seen more!), but I'll continue to be a huge fan, and I think this may just be Mason's way of making his next album seem that much better (ie. "Compared to 'In the Ever' [insert rave review]").

Mason Jennings: *****
Simple Life: *****
Birds Flying Away: ***************************(!)
Century Spring: ****
Use Your Voice: *****
Boneclouds: ****1/2
In the Ever: ***1/2

This album is definately still better than 99% of what I hear on the radio these days (it's funny how being spoiled by mind-blowing music makes you find just plain 'good' music pretty dull, know?).

**** 4 stars (excuse my earlier rating please- this is indeed another ingenious album by Jennings).

Dylan is "comfortably converted" on Time Out of Mind?

What the ...?

Mason Jennings is talented, but to diss Dylan at the expense of talking up Mason is beyond laughable!

When I mentioned Time Out of Mind, I was just referencing a time period that a incredible artist made questionable albums......in this case 20 years. Not how he adjusted over that time....that being said Time Out of Mind found an artist at the end of his rope......without tongue-in-cheek jokes that usually litter Bob Dylan albums....he was serious. Now....I think if Jennings found himself writing music in the same end of rope vein that Bob Dylan wrote Time out of Mind.....there is the potential to have an effort as harrowing as .......say.....maybe.....Lennon's Plastic Ono Band.....WOW I might catch crap for that one......but I did say potential.
But...as long as he's sitting in the sunshine on Jack Johnson's lable, I don't see that happening any time soon.
On In The Ever.....I hear the same flaws that plague all of J. Johnson's albums. They are just hidden betting because of Mason is 100% more talented in his craft that Johnson.

Joe, point taken. I didn't intend to dis Dylan and I probably should have referenced Slow Train Coming for contrast instead of Time Out of Mind. My point was that, for a period, Dylan wrote from the perspective of a born again Christian. "Comfortably" was a poor choice of words. There couldn't have been anything easy about his conversion. It was a major disappointment to die-hard fans, just as laying down his acoustic and picking up electric was.

Just saying that Mason's work here seems to be based on a similar kind of artistic integrity - making choices that don't depend on popular opinion. The initial disappointment of "die hards" may give way to a more objective appreciation for what he has actually created: an exceptionally good album.

I listened again. It's just not the same. More power to him for departing, but where's he headed? I can't tell.

This is by far my favorite MJ cd. I cannot get enough of 'Something About Your Love' feels like John Lennon. I want more and look forward to his next cd. He keeps getting better with age.

I love In the Ever! My Perfect Lover moves me to tears. It is wonderful to be able to enjoy an artist as time moves on. He continues to grow and thankfully he continues to share his journey through music.

Alright I have read many of your comments, and I am only a 15 year old in just the beginning of his palette of music. That being said, Jack Johnson was the first real singer I got into because of the CD Brushfire Fairytales. All of this being said thought, Mason Jennings was and still is what has made music a passion for me. This new album has just not had the flair and personal style that we expect from Mason. I have seen him in concert twice and it just touched me as much as a 15 year old can be touched. My thoughts on this new album though were that he was just trying too hard to impress this new label. Mason needs to be told just stick to what he knows and loves to sing like the songs on all of his other CD's(Use Your Voice being my favorite.)

Tommy, since you are all of 15yrs...Just as your family and friends love who you are now, I am sure they are looking forward to seeing you grow and becoming the man that you are driven to be. In this same way, it is important to allow and celebrate an artists progression. Where would we be if any of the great artist stayed the same? Why not enjoy the surprises that live brings. Also a friendly reminder... no one needs to be 'told to just stick to what he knows'. Music is a reprieve of narrow thinking; it helps one to expand outside their own mind to a world of anything's possible. So, Enjoy your ride of expansion and thankful that others share theres too.