Steve Mason’s fourth solo album steers away from scathing political commentary and turns inwards to the drawn out process of growing up.
The album’s opener “America Is Your Boyfriend” immediately lets us know that we are listening to a Steve Mason album. It sticks almost exclusively to the major key and sounds confidently optimistic. There’s a steady
The subsequent track “Rocket” is already significantly different. The slow drum track is closer to the hip-hop genre then is to rock, in spite of the indie guitar that accompanies it. On the other hand, “No Clue” focuses far more on the guitar, which is more Kurt Vile than The Beta Band. Unfortunately, it’s almost boringly indie and immensely unsatisfying. We are waiting for a grand climax but nothing really happens but a standard guitar solo.
The titular track “About The Light” is stronger. There is more of a buildup and it feels a little closer to home. Even though it experiments, you can hear the persisting shadow of The Beta Band and Mason’s optimistic, folky musical style.
It is hard to choose which track is the strongest on the album as it most likely comes down to personal taste. No one track stands out as particularly triumphant over the rest, although each has a slightly different flavor. “Walking Away from Love” seems to have a bit of a Beatles-gone-country feel and it’s consequently a good one to get you up on your feet. “Fox on the Rooftop” is interesting and sounds a lot like “A Lot Of Love” from his earlier album “Monkey Minds In The Devil’s Time.”
Although the album is pleasant to listen to, it arguably does not hold up to the high standard of his previous records. While “Monkey Minds” confidently explores life, politics and love, About The Light just seems to fall a bit flat.
It is hard to pinpoint where exactly the album is lacking but it certainly does feel as if something is missing. All in all, the record is not bad, it’s just not especially powerful. Steve Mason, bring back the trombones.
3/5
