Shawn Mullins - The First Ten Years
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Free Music Notes for The First Ten Years
Free Music Review: hmmmmm
Hit: 3 Stars
i really love shawn's later albums so i thought i'd listen to some of his old stuff. i was kinda disappointed with this collection. there were a few good tunes but for the most part he wasn't quite there yet, not quite ready for prime time. i'm glad some he kept his drive to make it to the big time!Free Music Review: perfect!!
Hit: 5 Stars
shawn has a wonderful ability to illustrate his words, and leaves you wondering whether the people in the songs exist in real life, or just in our imaginations. easy to sing along with, and nice to fall asleep to. i rarely dont have a shawn cd in my player, and this cd will be in there for a long time to come!Free Music Review: Before he went & cut off his hair...
Hit: 3 Stars
Believe it or not, there was a time when Shawn Mullins was amazing! This disc is proof. Okay, the first 2 songs are horrid, poppy crap, but the rest are soulful Shawn at his best. It makes sense to just buy his older albums (particularly 'Eggshells,' because it's incredible), but this one is a nice collection of his work. As usual for Shawn in his long-haired (read: pre-Beneath the Velvet Sun) days, the lyrics on this album will sweep you away, paint vivid pictures in your mind, and inspire you to create & appreciate beauty. Just skip those first 2 tracks!Free Music Review: More of Shawn
Hit: 4 Stars
This compliation album proves why Shawn Mullins is such a tremendous artist. With 13 brilliantly written songs, "The First Ten Years" is a journey, and Mullins does not hestiate to expose himself more than ever. He shows us his fears, his experiences, his tears, and his happiness - this album traces the early days, and one can hear the evolution of his music as the years pass by.I would reccomend this album only to those who are already familar with his music. (To those who do not recognize his voice, this album may seem scattered for it does not have one sound, for it traces the entire career of Shawn and his lyrics have changed and his perspectives are different). But to those who already love his music, this album is one of the best. One can hear all of the stages that he has gone through, and one can travel along with him as he endures through so much. It showcases his early days ("Evolution Man" and "This Time/Last Time") and stumbles through other periods ("Drumming Clown" and "Joshua"). His guitar and voice never fade while he keeps the audience involed with what he is experiencing as an artist, a lover, a human. A truly trained ear can hear and understand what has happened in the artists' career.
This album continues to showcase Mullins' voice - it is warm and embracing and soothing and comfortable. The richness in his voice has not faded with the years, and it has become more involved with his music. The reason I give this album four stars is because it fails to have only one sound, and that is because it is an album that traces his career. Other albums of his have one sound and one feeling ("Soul's Core" and "Eggshells"), but with this album, a listener can hear several different sounds. This is no reason, however, to not invest in the album.
I love all of his music, and I hope that more people would recognize his amazing ability to classify feelings/emotions. Go buy something of Shawn's - you will not regret it.
Free Music Review: Back to his roots
Hit: 5 Stars
I became a Shawn Mullins fan when I bought "Soul's Core" a couple of years ago. I liked "Soul's Core" so much that I later purchased "The First Ten Years" when it came out. I also bought "Beneath the Velvet Sun" as soon as it was released. On all of these albums, Shawn's talent as a consummate singer/songwriter is manifested. Shawn Mullins' music consists of straight, honest lyrics and his trademark acoustic guitar, along with soaring melodies laced at times with his exquisite falsetto. The songs on this disc showcase his early work, representing a compilation of songs previously released on albums under his independent "SMG" label.
From the beginning, Shawn has been a musician who is more interested in art than in pleasing the masses. Although he achieved great success with "Soul's Core," (due mostly to one song, "Lullaby") this album is evidence that Shawn hasn't sold out to the recording industry. He has obviously maintained his emphasis on writing songs because they are good songs; he's not writing songs that are merely replicated sounds from the narrow confines of FM radio.
"The First Ten Years" is Shawn's way of telling the world that despite his huge commercial success, in his heart he is still a man and his guitar, and that is what matters most. Only a few songs on this disc have a "big band" sound ("Changes," "What is Life," and "Lately"), all of which are excellent. However, the main thrust of the songs here is acoustic, often consisting of Shawn and his guitar only, with the possible exception of other sparse instrumentation in the background.
One of my favorite songs ever is on this disc - it's called "Joshua," an acoustic toe-tapping story about a 10-year-old boy and his 65-year-old friend, Joshua, who play the guitar together. This song is a classic - one of Shawn's very best. It will make you laugh and cry.
One necessary note: if you are Mormon, you may find "Salt Lake City 1973" offensive.
In summary, I love this album. If you prefer Shawn's "big band" sound, you may be better buying one of his later albums first. If you like folk-like acoustic singer/songwriter music, you will enjoy this album.