Jason Mcniff - Another Man
by Benjamin Howarth
published: 16 / 3 / 2006

Label:
Select Label
Format: CD
intro
Refreshing and surprisingly appealing third album from Dylan-fixated singer-songwriter Jason McNiff
When I first listened to this album I was ready to totally dismiss it. A Londoner whose Dylan impersonation was almost spot on, it seemed faintly ridiculous and totally shameless. But by the end of the album I was already quite enjoying it, and I have listened to it often ever since. McNiff is an interesting character. Only in his 30's, he has travelled across the globe, from his birthplace in Yorkshire, to Turkey and to Egypt(where he found himself briefly married). When he finally returned to London he was able to support the acoustic guitar legend Bert Jansch and released two albums, the second of which was acclaimed by 'Mojo'. But rather than build on this, he was off on his travels around Europe again , finally returning after two and a half years with this, a slight eight song album. But slight it may seem, it is a half hour well spent. Once you realise that this Bob Dylan and Neil Young are all he seems to know, it is much easier to simply enjoy his good songs, fingerpicked guitar and familiar vocals. The hazy style slowly burrows beneath your skull, and the songs then stay there. If he were from America, we’d all be applauding a maverick figure, but as he’s from London no one seems to pay any attention at all. Hopefully that will change. I don’t want to over sell it to anybody. It’s a very low key affair, cheaply recorded and with nothing by way of technical invention. All the songs are gentle affairs. But despite their lack of real originality, I like them all. Its always refreshing, after all, to hear somebody unaffected by the music scene all around them, and that’s what McNiff seems to be.
Track Listing:-
1 Another man2 Hills Of Rome
3 Berries
4 Delia
5 In Our Time
6 Broken Down
7 Pilgrims
8 Hat
Band Links:-
https://www.jasonmcniff.com/https://www.facebook.com/raindriesyoureyes/
https://twitter.com/jasonmcniff
digital downloads
bandcamp
soundcloud
reviews |
Joy and Independence (2018) |
![]() |
Stripped-down sixth album from London-based but Bradford-raised troubadour Jason McNiff which shows him at his very best |
Rain Dries Your Eyes (2017) |
Nobodys Son (2003) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Robby Krieger - Set The Night on Fire, Living, Dying, And Playing Guitar with The DoorsBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Lida Husik - Interview
Cathal Coughlan - Interview
Rick Wakeman - Interview
Peter Doherty and Frederic Lo - Cavern Club, Liverpool, 27/3/2022
Cliff Richard - Not Fade Away
Simon Bromide - Interview
Candlelight Tribute to Coldplay - Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, 1/4/2022
Wolfgang Flur - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Rupert Wates - For The PeopleBanjo Jen - Fine Line
Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri - The Long Ride Home
Bonham-Bullick - Bonham-Bullick
Dead South - Easy Listening for Jerks Parts 1 and 2
Family - A Song for Me
Loop - Sonancy
Stereophonics - Oochya!
John Mayall - The Sun is Shining Down
Weather Station - How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Adrian P
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Carl Bookstein
Chris O'Toole
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank