Shawn Mullins
Beneath The Velvet Sun

Shawn Mullins is an American singer-songwriter, from Atlanta to be precise, extremely gifted with great compositional technique, an ear for melody, and the author of many excellent songs. Musically, he draws from the tradition of great classics such as Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and the good old Steve Earle. Shawn is a very likable and extremely approachable character (I saw him once a few years ago at Alcatraz in Milan). Touring for just under 10 years across the States (accompanied by his dog Roadie) with only his acoustic guitar and playing in bars and venues of that rural America that surely fascinates but is known by few and made known by even fewer, Shawn brings us the stories of the people he meets. Therefore, you will find excellent insights for his lyrics, based on direct experiences and inspired by everyday life. Thanks to his wandering, in the States he is already considered by the public and critics as a cult author, well-known, and with calendars packed with live appointments that have allowed him to build an excellent artistic background.

This "Beneath the Velvet Sun" is the second album of his career and follows the successful "Soul's Core" from which (in 1998) three hit singles were extracted, one of these being the beautiful "Shimmer" which ended up in the soundtrack of the TV series "Dawson's Creek," giving Shawn a great return in image and commercially. Shawn Mullins' rock is classic American Rock, occasionally mixed or rather arranged in a quite pop way; enough to put him in heavy rotation on American radio. Furthermore, the folk-rock component or influence is strongly present in his production. That said, I emphasize that Mr. Mullins is extremely talented, with a great voice and the ability to create songs that tell stories of ordinary people, mostly those at the margins of society. In this recording episode, we move from the captivating "Up All Night" to the beautiful Folk-Rock of "Somethin' to Believe In," in a classic Shawn Mullins style. Worth mentioning are also "Lonesome I Know You Too Well," where the Mandolin and Lap Steel Guitar create very delicate and extremely sweet atmospheres supported by Shawn's seductive and deep voice. The following "I Know" is an excellent song with a great arrangement of trumpet vaguely blues and the male and female vocal pairing. "We Run" begins with a very sweet piano melody where Mullins' voice slips in, then ends in a crescendo turning into a very good rock piece. The following "North On" is distinguished by an extremely simple guitar riff, yet somewhat dark, supported by Shawn's very deep voice and an immense keyboard soundscape. A beautiful song that creates a wonderful atmosphere with its singing shifting from melodic moments to darker and more introspective ones. The following "Yellow Dog Song" picks up on the country-rock tradition, while the next "Santa Fe" is a great mid-tempo rock. The concluding mention goes to "Hold On," a song that will stick in your head for its splendid melody and the stunning arrangement of sax and trumpet supported by the fantastic sound of the B-3 organ, giving it the classic Soul-Gospel sound.

An excellent album, excellently produced and played by musicians of great caliber (among many, there's a certain Vinnie Colaiuta), this album, if you like the genre, will remain in your player for a long time.