Paul McMahon - Hymn to Her
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 2 / 5 / 2015
Label:
Paul McMahon
Format: CD
intro
Fabulous satirical folk pop on latest album from New York-based singer-songwriter, Paul McMahon
With a thoroughly intriguing eponymous album on the Neutral label from NYC when Glenn Branca and Sonic Youth were just about to attract a bit of attention, Paul McMahon's debut dates back to 1986. His phlegmatic wit failed to hit the right chord with the minutely shrunken masses in the aftermath of the No New York noise mayhem. "Turtles travel slowly/It's not their fault/ It's asphalt," he sang on 'Turtles Travel Slowly on Asphalt' on that album. McMahon's ironic vaudeville twang though lasts until this very day. His highly volatile political comment and romanticism may be typical of liberal New England, yet his sense of humour and melody still sounds refreshingly juvenile. Paul's howling vocals at times sounds like burly burping. McMahon's zany blues vocals range from soulful crooning to sarcastic existentialism, just as he prefers to make a small mockery of the brawling Americana which he is, however, evidently very fond of. His vocal extravagance occasionally leads the listener into believing he'll start yodelling next. Very wise and ironic comments set aside, Paul McMahon pulls off an excellent tongue twister as if for a small moment he were Chubby Checker. In mentioning next Dolly Parton, he gives away the affection he feels for country music. 'Hymn to Her' sums up small town Americana of the kind extremely unpopular with big time companies today. And as per usual, big time companies have got it ever so wrong.
Track Listing:-
1 Only Love (Is)2 Beat the Bushes
3 Hanuman and Anjani
4 Birdcage for My Heart
5 When You Know You Know
6 Liza Jane
7 Milk Me Mama
8 Big Black Plume of Oil
9 We're All Angels
10 You're My Guts
11 Gan Ganapataye Namo Namah
Band Links:-
http://paulmcmahon.tv/music/most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart