Mister Bones - Pretty Little Headstones

Mister Bones

Pretty Little Headstones
self-released; 2022

By Matt Jensen
​

Pretty Little Headstones is the debut album by Mister Bones. It’s a DIY album where the artist did everything from the songwriting to the recording. The artist describes it as “This graveyard is full of sweet, somber and sometimes spooky tunes that would make a skeleton cry.” There are a number of different styles throughout this release but the somber and dark qualities are consistent.

The album begins with “When Southward That Crow Does Fly” which is a clear highlight. It opens with soft and gentle guitar work and elements like bass and drums are added. This song is a melancholy folk/country song and was reminiscent of Bonnie "Prince" Billy and other like-minded artists. The vocals are very well delivered  in this song. It’s an emotionally resonant song and a great way to start the album.

The country and folk flavor is completely gone on the next song “Living Dead.” This is a slow burn of a song and I would say it goes past the feeling of melancholy. There’s a dismal sort of energy here with very little hope in sight. 

“Shadow of the Night” is very lo-fi quality but in this case it fits the song really well. It works because the song is minimal with just guitar and vocals. This song has a ’70s folk feel but perhaps a little more dark than your typical song. “Autumn Wind” is just as minimal but the feel is very different. The song is haunting but the hall reverb puts it over the top. It sounds a bit like a stripped back song from Roy Orbison.

“Somewhere Inside” contains an electronic beat and fuzzy electric piano while “Mr. Willy Woney” submerges in a dark soundscape that feels a bit Halloween inspired. Piano is the main instrument on “Dancing Without a Floor” which works with the dark vibe but just a different angle from the guitar. 

The artist continues to experiment with different styles of music. “Eternally Dreaming (You'll Bring a Rose)” seems to have a completely different singer who sounds like Willie Nelson. There were a number of high points as the album progressed such as “Everytime Around New Year” and “I Know.”

My only critique was that the album felt a little scattered in terms of style and genre. I would have liked to hear a little more cohesion in this area. 

​Overall, I thought this was a really good debut. It’s a dark ride but I found it emotive and earnest. Take a listen.

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