Orlando based singer/songwriter Mark Dawson has just released his second solo CD, “Making Noise.” The 12 song CD has a vintage rock/pop sound, with the richly textured music and smoothly flowing vocal harmonies giving the songs a comforting, retro feel.
“Gambler” opens the CD with a prominent bassline and silky, reassuring vibe as Dawson sings “don't give up on yourself just yet/cuz I’m a gambler/and baby, you are my best bet.” “Vampires Lament” has a dark tone, intensified with a haunting guitar solo. A ukulele and whistling are the main features in the breezy, up-tempo “Falling In Love Again.” The organ leads off on “So Unusual” as Dawson teams up for a duet with Carl Giammarese (The Buckinghams), a song that harkens back to the days when vocal groups topped the charts.
“Cold Sweat on a Hot Night” has a floating, surreal vibe, while the steady rhythms of “The Best Thing” give that song almost a jug band feel. The up-tempo “Brother Lover” has a prominent bassline steering the urgent tone of the music. “Why So Angry” is mainly an instrumental with a spacey, psychedelic vibe. Finger snaps add special character to the very short song “Fantasy.” The CD closes with the up-tempo title track and an eclectic blend of music as Dawson sings “I’ll be making some noise/with every new day dawning/just noise.”
The actual CD for “Making Noise” has two bonus tracks not available in the downloadable version, covers of Harry Nilsson’s “Jump Into the Fire” and John Fogerty’s “Long As I Can See the Light.” CDs and downloads of “Making Noise” are available on Dawson’s official web site.
With “Making Noise,” Dawson has successfully brought forward his love of the music from the 60’s and 70’s into fresh, new music that’s not only heard but felt.
More info on Mark Dawson, lead singer and bass player for The Grass Roots can be found on his official web site, Facebook page, You Tube Channel and Twitter.
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