December Looms

Album Review

John Mann returns to his bare-bones alt-folk roots with the beautiful December Looms, using just his acoustic guitar and warm voice to create a quiet gem of a recording, filled with beautiful melodies and observational insight. Mann has always been an observational writer; his lyrics are simple, yet filled with lyric gems, like "I've Been Bad"'s "Miles and miles of empty track/twisted round inside my head/once I had a train of thought/But I drank to forget then forgot/love's first name/what was love's first name?" "When I Played Around with Knives is a nostalgic reflection on past innocence, "My Little Lamb" is a touching and true father-child story, and "Port Town" details his personal relationship with his home city of Vancouver. Another highlight is "I Play Blind," showing off his lyrical brilliance as he chronicles a couple clinging together unhappily yet needily in a failing relationship. His world-weary tone is comfortable even when emoting the gravest cynicism, and his musicianship is always more than capable. Highly recommended.