Sean McMahon is often hailed as a musician’s musicians, which is a kind of backhanded compliment implying that the majority of casual listeners aren’t really going to engage, or that you need special industry ears in order to appreciate him. It’s not at all true though, as his latest outing with the MoonMen readily attests.
Shiner is an interesting step for the Melbourne muso, moving from his accustomed country rock to an album steeped in Americana and alt-folk. And while there are moments of melancholy here, the overall tone is one of upbeat hopefulness. His voice manages to sound both world-weary and full of expression, as on the splendid Turn to You, and there is enough variety across the LP to keep you guessing.
From catchy opener House of Mirrors to the eponymous closing track, there is a sense of having covered many miles of heartbreak and redemption. “My black umbrella, hasn’t seen the light of day, in so long,” he sings, and this cautious optimism rings quite sincere.
There is something reminiscent of Eels’ Mark Oliver Everett to McMahon’s vocals, and indeed, were you to cross Eels with The Band, you might have something resembling Shiner. As parents go, you could do a whole lot worse.
BY ADAM NORRIS
