John River Shannon - Time Was A Lie (2012)

John River Shannon returns with his third offering of desert-influenced, mystical-leaning, folk pop; a ten song collection entitled, Time Was a Lie. A Pittsburgh native who's resided in Brooklyn for the past ten years, Shannon is regarded as one of the most influential artists emanating from the current New York City singer/songwriter movement that revolves around venues like Rockwood Music Hall and Pete's Candy Store. For this latest effort, Shannon expanded upon the meditative acoustic guitar-based sound of his two previous albums, American Mystic, and, Songs of the Desert River, by giving the proceedings a literal boost of energy through the inclusion of electric bass and drums. And although Shannon s breezy folk-leanings conjure visions of clear blue skies and pristine mountain streams, Time Was a Lie was recorded in the densely populated metropolises of Brooklyn and Paris. The latter city being a home away from home for Shannon where he enjoys a sizable fan-base. As on previous outings, organic and esoteric elements weave themselves through much of Shannon s music, but this time his songwriting is more open and inclusive with tracks like Fortify, City Lights, and Always, presenting universal themes. He even goes as far as to call upon one of his musical heroes, Paul Simon, for a shimmering rendition of the classic, Graceland.