Masts Of Manhatta

String heavy, very accessible, lots of influences including classical, country, Far-East, folk. Great arrangements, features Smokey Hormel (Tom Waits sideman) on guitar. Great female vocalist. Strong album. FCC’s #6, 7.

*My Favorites*: 1, 4, 8, 10, 11.

1. *(4:38) Mid. Far-East flair, strings, lots of space in drumming echoing vocal delivery. Cool, easy sound.
2. (4:28) Slow / Mid. Classical guitar, cello, organ, background vocals in first half of song. Then electric guitar, a bit quicker tempo, but still retains the original sound.
3. (4:40) Mid. Really magnetic percussion, a Latin tinge, upbeat, subdued guitar solo near end.
4. *(4:13) Mid. String solo to start, with vocal. Classic Smokey Hormel guitar work. Very theatrical, dramatic, carnivalistic. Kicks ass. (spoken voice with 0:07 remaining)
5. (5:48) Slow / Mid. Classical arrangement to start, then voice, moving into a more folky / popish sound. This is the song if you’re playing a mellow, dreamy set.
6. (5:48) FCC Mid. Country tune, easy drumming, easy strumming on guitar.
7. (3:58) FCC Slow. Piano dirge song, with some strings. A bit of Fiona Apple.
8. *(5:05) Mid. Voice and guitar to start, then drums. Mellow, easy folky tune. Slow fade with about 10 sec. of silence at end.
9. (4:29) Mid. Crunchy guitar, dreamy vocals with background vocals. Cool bass.
10. *(4:09) Mid. Acoustic guitar, drums, bass, violin. Very folky / indie sounding. A bit of Uncle Tupelo.
11. *(2:24) Mid. Sparse instrumentation, lots of space, guitar, piano, violin. Very playful.