Vanguard Records
2006
9th Ward Pickin' Parlor
About This Album
Not surprisingly, Shawn Mullins' association with Sony didn't last long. His sophomore release for the label never found its audience, and with eclectic singer/songwriters not exactly in vogue in 2005, he found a more comfortable and logical home at Vanguard. Here was a company that thrived on, and had a successful history, promoting other artists with idiosyncratic folk and folk-rock styles similar to Mullins. The feeling was obviously mutual, since he delivers a gem of a debut, 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor, for the legendary imprint.

With acoustic tracks recorded at the titular New Orleans studio, pre-Hurricane Katrina, Mullins has crafted a diverse offering that encompasses folk, rock, Celtic, and country, often interlocking in the same tune. He aims for early Black Crowes territory on the gospel-laced "Faith," and gives a personal spin to a self-penned murder ballad "Cold Black Heart," which is dominated by his work on charango, an Andean mandolin. The mandolin also plays a prominent role in "Homemade Wine," a moody story-song ballad about leaving a town and a life behind that takes advantage of Mullins' deep, expressive voice. "All Fall Down" finds its rocking heart in the Beatles' "I Want You," especially as it builds in intensity as circular chords accentuate the melody.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9)

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