Willy Mason

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Well everything about the guy sets him up to be hated - fawning trad rock critics, Elliott Smith and Dylan comparisons, journalists wanging on about his age.

But I dunnno, it's kind of hard to hate on that "Oxygen" song (the only thing I've heard). Its naivety is very charming and its tone has archaic sixties echos that seem timely and refreshing. I like the use of words like "dignity" and "justice" and the straightforwardness of the whole thing. Has the potential to be as sickening as "Imagine" 10 years hence, but right now its nice.

Dunno, imagine I'll hate this soon.

What do YOU think, sage-like oracles of truth and discernment?

― Jacob (Jacob), Friday, 18 February 2005 02:20 (twenty years ago)

"Oxygen" seems slightly charming for about the first thirty seconds or so, and then I feel nauseous and I have to switch channel on the radio. I've obviously been spending too much time (lurking) on this board, 'cause the first time I heard it, I immediately thought the pop-loving ILMers are going to be repelled by this; a song where the lyrics are far more important than the music - doesn't that seem sort of definitively indie?

― rollergrrl, Friday, 18 February 2005 03:41 (twenty years ago)

he is from martha's vineyard where i live and the brits love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― scott seward (scott seward), Friday, 18 February 2005 03:44 (twenty years ago)

I think it's less the indie-ness that people will hate and more the "middlebrow" characteristics - it would be very easy to lump him in with Coldplay, Cullum, Keane et al.

― Jacob (Jacob), Friday, 18 February 2005 04:10 (twenty years ago)

I interviewed him and his band a few years ago for the MV Times. He's a nice local kid. His mother makes folk music.

― Maria D. (Maria D.), Friday, 18 February 2005 04:18 (twenty years ago)

Oxygen needs to be about two fifths as long as it is.

― James.Cobo (jamescobo), Friday, 18 February 2005 04:25 (twenty years ago)

i shared a cigarette with willy mason in maine this summer outside an m. ward concert (for whom he opened). he's a very cool, unassuming and straighforward guy who makes cool, unassuming and straightforward music. oxygen is a great song. i don't think this guy is even close to the next dylan, nor do i think he is full of shit (as most "neu folk" artists may be). he was living out of his van this summer, and i think his songs reflect his simple lifestyle. anyway, more power to him.

― rockaction (rockaction), Friday, 18 February 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

― rockaction (rockaction), Friday, 18 February 2005 04:54 (twenty years ago)

I saw him last week with the 22-20's as his band, and it was amazing - gave the simplicity of his songs a whole new ominous country/blues base.

― Abby (abby mcdonald), Friday, 18 February 2005 11:20 (twenty years ago)

i was at that maine m. ward show

― brokenfuses, Friday, 18 February 2005 12:35 (twenty years ago)

UGH

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 18 February 2005 16:33 (twenty years ago)

what's the line? "we speak louder than ignorance b/c we speak with silence"? the first time i heard this i thought it was a joke.

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 18 February 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

I hadn't heard Oxygen yet, but I just watched a snippet of the video. That's where I live! And I think I vaguely recall that my friend B0b L33 told me he is in the video.

― Maria D. (Maria D.), Friday, 18 February 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

Ha! I just found the whole video. The scraggly housepainter in blue with elbow pads is one of my bestest friends (his mix tapes rule) and one of the boys behind the held-up photos is an ex-beau of mine. It's weird to see friends in videos! An old friend of mine who I hadn't seen in years turned up in a Sleater-Kinney video once. That was weirder, since SK aren't from around here.

― Maria D. (Maria D.), Friday, 18 February 2005 18:59 (twenty years ago)

Heard the album, charming but nothing groundbreaking (in a good way). Some of the lyrics can be a bit too ordinary and cliche (really, "Oxygen" is the worst but maybe the only offender), but it probably speaks to some people. The body of the album (like, from track 3 through "Oxygen") is pretty OK.

― alex in montreal, Wednesday, 23 February 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

oxygen is a bit dull.. except maybe for the little bit near the end.

aren't the verses of the song just based on one note?

― jellybean (jellybean), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

six months pass...

Willy will be playing a benefit for the station we're starting here on Martha's Vineyard. He's a nice kid. I'm looking forward to it.

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Thursday, 15 September 2005 01:34 (twenty years ago)

ten months pass...

Willy, Unbusted and Isaac Taylor are playing another benefit for MV Community Radio tomorrow at the Outerland (formerly the Hot Tin Roof). If anybody Boston-area ILXors come, I'll give you a free t-shirt.

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Tuesday, 18 July 2006 11:17 (nineteen years ago)

any Boston-area ILXors, I mean.

I'm liking Willy's music partly because he's such a nice kid. The violinist who accompanies him, Nina, is more why I listen, actually.

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Tuesday, 18 July 2006 11:25 (nineteen years ago)

Saw him supporting Radiohead in May, i wish i hadn't.

― leigh (leigh), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 08:09 (nineteen years ago)

Saw him 9 times supporting Radiohead, wish I hadn't. I also saw him once of my own volition, but in my defense I was really stoned.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 08:10 (nineteen years ago)

I'm spellbound by "Oxygen".

― aaron d.g. (aaron d.g.), Thursday, 20 July 2006 04:17 (nineteen years ago)

five months pass...

I'm on his mailing list and I just got this message:
SUBJECT: House Concert Tour Application - UK (& Ireland) residents

To Whom It May Concern:

I, Willy Mason, will be putting together a house party
concert tour of the UK (& Ireland) in late January / February.
This letter is a formal request to all interested in hosting
such a show to submit their offer for consideration. All that
is required for a house to be considered is ... electricity.
Another asset to your submission would be the likelihood of a
small and friendly audience.
************888

If any of you in the UK and Ireland are interested, e-mail me (my addy works) and I'll give you the contact info. He's really a great kid and he puts on good shows.

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Monday, 8 January 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

why doesn't this show up when I check "new answers"?

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Monday, 8 January 2007 16:26 (eighteen years ago)

it's there.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 8 January 2007 16:28 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

Willy Mason is hosting a radio show on wvvy.org right now for another 75 minutes. It's a freeform fest of music he likes. He's subbing for one of our DJs who couldn't make it this morning.

http://rs1.radiostreamer.com:8360

― Maria :D, Monday, 11 February 2008 15:46 (seventeen years ago)

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