Cityzen's 50th Album Review! Jason Reeves The Nervous Mind of Love Trilogy/ Dancing Squirrel b y Fridae Mattas The new meaning of talent should be defined as Jason Reeves, a name you won’t soon forget! This 20 year old Iowa native, currently residing in California, is a spectacle that just could not be left undiscovered. He was recently signed to Xygon productions, landed a spot in the New York International Music Festival and has started recording with “Five for Fighting.”

Jason’s third studio album titled “The Nervous Mind of Love” is a departure from his soothingly depressive sophomore album “Makeshift Aircraft,” and the transition of moods is flawless. Track to track this album summarizes what most people hope for when it comes to love. The wish of love comes in a superior form… Real Music. In today’s industry we really don’t see many people singing about love as much as in the past. They sing about gang wars, rivalries and how dirrty they can get, but they don’t narrow in on the positive. The closest comparison I can think of when it comes to Jason is John Mayer, but I believe Jason is far more gifted. I mean Mayer is an amazing guitarist and a Grammy winning songwriter, but Jason is a self taught guitar player who also plays the drums, piano, harmonica and mandolin. He writes and composes all of his own material and this, his third album, was released at the tender age of 20. The fact that Jason and John both play guitar and the guitar is strongly incorporated into the songs, of both musicians you can’t help but sound similar, the comparison dissipates there.

Jason is a talented artist as well, and has designed all of the graphics
associated with his web site and CDs.

The prodigious lyrics and beguiling guitar are what makes this musician. Another key element to his sound is his voice. He has this restful tone, a nice cool laidback style that is pitch perfect. In "Morning Air," Jason croons "The sweetest dreams are next to you and I don’t even have to close my eyes.” The way it streamed together strikes a chord to with those yearning for that same kind of love. Such passion, soul and truth, the song that stuck out the most in my mind is the bubbly “Happy to be Numb," --I could be on the surface of the sun; I could be on the barrel of a gun on the bottom of a ton. I still think I wouldn’t feel a thing I’m so happy to be numb to everything but your sweet lips and sun.” This should be the theme song for how it feels to be in love. Mediocre I think not, it is pure genius.

However, even geniuses are not perfect. My only grievance is that the tracks “Colors" and "Shine” have no real defining characteristics, and placement on the album in succession caused me to wonder if I had listened to one song or two. I would not know the difference between them if I had not been paying attention to the track titles. The vocal arrangements and melodies are analogous on both of the tracks although the compositions themselves are diverse. “Say Love” is a track not to be missed, and the title track is truth is definitavely stated. Jason you have no reason to be nervous. This album is a rare gem, go buy it, you will not be disappointed. “Music is made of unique vibrations that speak directly with the humming of the soul”—Jason Reeves

Jason Reeves' Website: www.jasonreevesmusic.com