MP3 Peter Mandic Band - I Used to Work

Folk/Rock Storyteller

13 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Folk-Rock

Details:
Over 40-somethings drop great new CD "I Used to Work" on eagerly awaiting fans
By Suzy Miller

Peter Mandic Band is led by Peter and includes Paul McKeracher on bass, George Douglas on mandolin and J. Bruce Walton on percussion, harmonica and backing vocals.

If you want to start a conversation about what is current with "Baby Boomers", this CD will work for you. The songs are written with the wisdom that comes from living a full life and looking at the world with a kind, thought-provoking and almost back-looking view.

Peter Mandic wrote all the songs but "8 Guitars" a co-write with Mario Panacci, âRazor Wireâ a co-write with Wayne Carlson and "You Went Away" by Steve Moore. The songwriting is what stands out and makes this CD so gripping; in every song there are real gems of thought put to music. And to find an artist comfortable enough in his own skin to honour other songwriters is refreshing. The song placement takes you on a musical ride that starts off nice and easy and builds to full gallop.

âSigh For no Reasonâ â the lyrics speak of heartbreak âbarefoot in the sunâ, sorrow-filled questioning, âwhatâs on your mind when you cry for no reason, kills me that I donât know whyâ. The instantly memorable, "is it the season, when you spin me around".

Arrogance and new money, âCupcakeâ tells the story of whatâs not important in life. As you listen to âevery chance reminds you what a lucky man he isâ and âhe never asks about you âcause the best life is hisâ, you recall a character in your own life that has mistakenly traded relationships for things ⦠âa million dollars and a brand new carâ. Peter has spun a tale with haunting visuals, âhe lights a stick of sorrow, blows smoke rings in the windâ, the smoke almost filling the void created by his self-importance.

The title track, âI Used to Work", talks about life being down-sized by getting the clutter out. The clutter of working everyday at a job that is no longer any fun. This song resonates with Peterâs generation, a generation eager to scale back and a generation more than familiar with the pink slip. "I used to work, I used to scream". Peter writes about moving back to his roots and giving his treasures to others to enjoy â âshedding himself of stuffâ. The freedom of stripping away all the unnecessary clutter and getting back to the bare necessities âbuild me a shelter, on a piece of rockâ. Waltonâs work on harmonica is fabulous. This song works so well following âCupcakeâ; the guy who thought he had it all with his âmillion dollarsâ but in reality has nothing compared to the guy who âused to workâ and now really has it all.

Douglasâ mandolin solos on âFredâ puts me in mind of the late great Willie P. Bennett. The song is about Fred J. Eaglesmith, a favourite songwriter of Mandicâs. Itâs a raw, honest look at one of Canadaâs best kept secrets.

Razor Wire, a co-write with Mandic and Wayne Carlson was featured on CBCâs Fifth Estate. The show chronicled Carlsonâs life within the prison system and his parole hearing in March of 2006. A sad, sad song leaving you with goose bumps as Mandic and Walton harmonize âIâm always tiredâ.

â8 Guitarsâ, a Mandic/Panacci co-write is a favourite of mine. I love Paul McKeracherâs bass and the voice drops at the end of lines, âtoo many things ⦠too muchâ. This song takes me down a garden path. I feel myself walking with some excitement towards something new âsomething I canât looseâ.

Steve Mooreâs âYou Went Awayâ is a bare angry in-your-face breakup song. Steveâs songwriting is great with lines like âwith your piss cats hissing in the back of your Chevrolet, you went away â¦â. The band makes this song their own and youâll find yourself pulling for this guy.

"Pickup Truck" is such a paradigm shift from Peter's other works. I love the spoken word, it makes me think of the great Mary Gauthier. When I asked him what he was thinking when he wrote this song, he
simply said, "suicide bombers". This song is current and relevant in today's crazy world.

This CD is for those who want something smarter beneath the lyrics. Well constructed songs performed by roots musicians with vocals reminiscent of Tom Petty or Dylan. Music with soothing space in the production.

People who are interested in Bob Dylan Tom Petty Leonard Cohen should consider this download.