One Season - Man on a Mission

One Season

Man on a Mission
self-released; 2014

3.7 out of 5

Be Ethan Skelton

One Season is a little Phish with a little country-fried Foo Fighters. In other words, they do some cool things with their instruments and you just might tap a toe or two supplied you’re not already in full on dance mode like that one guy in sunglasses and pajama bottoms. 

He’s been ruining any chance of a dance floor since his first drink. This group sounds like they might be familiar with some of those seedy chic taprooms that smell a little too much like old beer. But those are the shows you remember when you start to climb the ladder of elevated stages and big rig production.

Nevertheless, One Season carry some grunge to their work on their album Man on a Mission and it’s very loose and original when heavily greased like on tracks such as “Big Time Sarah” or “Got No Game.” When the rock slams down they don’t let go and the same can be said for their more danceable jam songs. I think the recording could be a little more present in general but mostly it has great mix and mic EQ.

The title track “Man on a Mission” doesn’t start off the strongest note but it builds into a pretty solid rock ballad. I’d lower that upper register guitar line due to the fact that it’s slightly out of place and wading in too much light texture when a heavy base is what works consistently better throughout the album. 

With “God Is Angry” we have a rich crowd sing-a-long in the form of strong riffs and triplet fills. Beyond that, it was just another score for the stage and a good reason to spill beer on your shoes. 

“There’s The Door” is likely the most Phish-like track and now that I’m really sitting on it, it has shades of Umphrey’s McGee in there too. If we can take one thing from Man on a Mission it’s that good music comes without needing to be in your face and negative. This stuff is heavy and feel-good all at the same time. Treat yourself to a show and see just what I mean.

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