Shawn Mullins
Honeydew
Vanguard 79830
visit Shawn's website
and on myspace
also available on amazon
This Atlanta based musician has given us another dozen songs that are delivered in his slightly husky, sand papery voice filled with stories of life and love, songs that mirror his views of this puzzle we call life. All the songs are written by him except, the Ballad of Kathryn Johnston, which he co-wrote with Matthew Kahler, and All In My Head, which he co-wrote with Gerry Hansen who also contributed engineering, drums and percussion, lap steel guitar and background vocals. Some of songs are delivered with not much to support his voice beyond his acoustic guitar, and others are delivered with full band sound and backing singers. The band is solid and tight and stays with him without overshadowing, while reinforcing the meaning what he is trying to get across with their arrangements. Francine Reed comes to the forefront with her supporting lead vocals on Homeless Joe, her wonderful voice
from the gospel church helps push this song to the next level, and she lends backing vocals throughout the disc. Also on Cabbagetown, he has Kasey Chambers from Australia helping him along. As mentioned he has a tight back including some wonderful electric guitar and Resonator guitar by Peter Stroud. There is a very southern feel to the disc, both in the music and the sentiments he is expressing. He is a singer with something to say in a slight different manner that doesn’t get the amount of airplay he deserves.