Exclusive first listen! New from Mason Jennings :: “Fighter Girl”
Hot on the heels of a great solo Ed Vedder show last night (more later), I am so pleased to find a song from the new Mason Jennings album sitting in my inbox this morning — fresh for the sharing with you all!
Mason’s brand of songwriting has affected me with his vivid lyrical pictures and the simple honesty in his music (I interviewed him last year, if you missed it). “Fighter Girl” is a concert favorite that has finally made it onto a proper album for his upcoming effort In The Ever, due in May on Brushfire Records. This tune was previously on the If You Need A Reason bonus EP in a different version.
In The Ever is the follow-up to his major label 2006 record Boneclouds, on Isaac Brock’s Epic-distributed Glacial Pace label. The new album was recorded during stripped-down sessions in Mason’s home studio in the Minnesota woods. “It’s been a slow growth, but extremely fun for me,” he says. “For me, it’s about expanding and working from a place of joy. If I can enjoy what I do, and make new art that inspires me, everything will work out for the best.”
This is one of my favorite songs on the (excellent) new album:
Fighter Girl – Mason Jennings
Spinning your umbrella over your head
You should be in bed but you’re here instead
Walking with me towards a midnight swim
I can give you baby what you can’t get from him
Songbirds singing in an old dead tree
The way you drive honey scares the hell out of me
A hundred miles an hour on a brand new road
Look at me again, you make my heart explode
Hey hey little fighter girl
It’s you and me now against this whole wide world
Sleeping together in the lion’s den
Got your earrings in my pocket till I see you again
Clouds roll by, laying up on the hill
Everything is still, do you think we will?
If we do there’ll be no turning back
If we don’t — well there’s no chance of that
Come on kiss me
Keep on kissing me
Cars in the distance, a bicycle bell
Dogs are barking as the kingdom fell
And in its place stood a golden town
Where people walked without touching the ground
MASON IN THE COMING MONTHS
April/May – Co-headlining tour with Brett Dennen & Missy Higgins
June – Jack Johnson US tour & Bonnaroo
July – Jack Johnson European tour
August – Lollapalooza
September – Austin City Limits
All dates at www.masonjennings.com
Name: Heather Browne
There was a stripped down acoustic version of “Fighter Girl” on Mason’s If You Need A Reason EP that came out around the same time as Boneclouds and was included with some copies of that album.
What’s with this new singer-songwriter recycling trend as of late? First Mike Doughty redoes “27 Jennifers” for his new album, now Mason redoes “Fighter Girl.” I love both artists to death, but it feels like self-remakes like this are better suited to EPs or B-Sides instead of proper album tracks.
LBDG — April 8, 2008 @ 10:51 am
Thanks LBDG.
heather — April 8, 2008 @ 11:19 am
love this “yeah yeah yeahhhh” so muuuuuch! lol
Anonymous — April 8, 2008 @ 12:18 pm
I feel like I’ve been waiting 10 years for the next Mason Jennings album to come out! Boneclouds was genius – one of those albums that just helps me get through the day. Thanks for the heads up Heather!
Kraig — April 8, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
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Dana — April 8, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
Bruce on Monday, Eddie on Tuesday. What a great music week you’re having. Just wanted to say that I enjoy the blog but never seem to leave a comment to say that – so here’s one now. Thanks for your efforts at bringing new music to my ears.
Chris — April 8, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
great song! looking forward to seeing him in cornwall
Anonymous — April 9, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
Heather – where’s that Vedder show review?
Saw him on Night 1 in Vancouver but I hear you all got a great treat in Berkeley.
Looking forward to hearing about it
Tony — April 10, 2008 @ 10:16 am