Willy Mason

Willy Mason

If the Ocean Gets Rough (Astralwerks)

Today's young artists face the combined challenge of breathing life into established genres while also having something fresh to say. Twenty-two-year-old Willy Mason is one such relative newcomer. He's drawn comparisons to Bright Eyes and Beth Orton and has become something of a phenom in the UK. After several EPs and two LPs, the Massachusetts resident still needs a bit more seasoning. With its fuller sound, If the Ocean Gets Rough is an upgrade from Mason's previously stark work, and he remains a top-notch melody maker; tunes like "Gotta Keep Walking," "Save Myself," and "Riptide" are sing-alongs in no time. Mason displays promise, but with limited range vocally and echoes of Ben Harper, Los Lobos, and John Hiatt in his song-craft, he hasn't hit one squarely out of the park yet.