Let me start by saying that I have been a fan of Willy Mason for a couple of years. Therefore bias is something that I will not try to hide while discussing this album. Willy Mason continues to create fantastic music to drive to. The songs on this album flow seamlessly. It felt like getting a wonderful book on tape (or CD even). From the first song “Gotta Keep Walking” to the last song “When the Leaves Have Fallen” Willy creates beautiful music without overreaching. The album seems nearly effortless as it transitions from folk, alt-county, blues, and even gospel. From the beginning to the end Willy Mason creates enjoyable music. I feel like the greatest compliment I can give an artist is mentioning that there is no need for a skip button when listening to their work. With “If the Ocean Gets Rough” Willy strings each song together through solid music and incredible lyrics.
“Simple Town” brings musical ingenuity to the forefront. The musical arrangements are far from simple. Rather they help to create a mood that makes the lyrics more poetic than expected. Mason is able to use his strong baritone voice while still providing emotive undertones throughout this song (and many others on the album).
“When the River Moves On” is by far my favorite song on this album. The backing vocals transported me to a baptism on a river in the South. The overall gospel feel is simply amazing. This song epitomizes the range and maturity of Willy Mason and his band. Completely unexpected on this album, but completely free of error. Simply put, a wonderful song to enjoy with no pretenses.
Good music is good music. Willy Mason delivers entertaining, insightful, poetic songs from start to finish on “If the Ocean Gets Rough.” Take 43 minutes and listen to the entire album. If you don’t enjoy my next review is free.