F.J. McMahon - Spirit Of the Golden Juice (1969)

On his sole, rare album, F.J. McMahon's style has been compared to a couple of other folk-rock singer/songwriters of the era, Tim Hardin and Fred Neil. Indeed, there are similarities, though they're not blatant. There's an understated, introspective quality to the compositions and the vocals, and a laconically bluesy flavor to some of the melodies and guitar work. McMahon's singing isn't as rich as Neil's and Hardin's, however, nor as sorrowful as Hardin's, and the production and arrangements are quite a bit more barebones. Nor are his songs as outstanding, or varied in flavor. Bringing up all these qualms is picking on him a bit; by the standards of LPs that were likely only heard by few local or regional listeners, it's above-average, and a pleasant enough fit for a slightly melancholy mood.