ADDICTED TO LOVE
Album Review: "A Piece of Me" by Jason Mark Yates
By Linda Freeman, TIW Music
Back in the summer of '91, when I was learning how to write decent
lyrics, Bryan Adams' megahit, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," sat
on top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart
for 7 weeks and at #1 on the UK Singles chart for 16 weeks. I had the
song on repeat, trying to figure out what made the lyrics (written by
Adams, Michael Kamen and Robert John "Mutt" Lange) so compelling. What
hit home the most was Adams' raspy, earnest voice singing passionately
about his love:
"Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you."
It's many women's fantasy of what their man would do for them. It's
many men's fantasy (I think -- you tell ME!) of what they would do for
the woman they loved. Romance and passion, distilled into one song.
In many of Jason Mark Yates' songs on "A Piece of Me," the album he
released in March of this year, he also captures the essence of romance
and passion in his lyrics. His romantic themes vary, and include
obsession about a lost love (as in "Tomorrow Never Comes" and the
brilliant "Curse the Moon") or about love that is powerful but doomed
("Shifting Sands"), but all are themes that often capture women's
hearts. If you don't believe me, look at the box office draws of such
movies as "The Notebook" or "Ghost."
Yates is a
singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist from Worcester, UK whose writing
partner on some of his music is Darcy Jeavons from California. On "A
Piece of Me," Jeavons co-wrote "So Into You," does the background vocal
on "Shifting Sands," and produced "The Answer Is You." Yates wrote,
performed, and produced the other songs. Several have a Latin flair that
call to mind Sting and Michael Bublé, and are beautifully arranged.
Yates' guitar work is especially good, with songs such as "Shifting
Sands" showcasing a chill, yearning solo.
My favorite song is
"Curse the Moon," a poetic metaphor for love in denial: "You can drink
your wine/'Til the sky turns red/You can plan your schemes from your
bed/I'll be alright without you/I'll be just fine on my own." Another
standout is "So Into You," written
by and performed with Jeavons, which has so much sexy electricity
that it's perfect for a romantic evening. Jeavons' voice provides a
luscious counterpoint to Yates' husky vocals; watch for their upcoming
single, "Knock Down My Door"!
Buy "A Piece of Me" on iTunes at http://bit.ly/1jfFwhw
Visit Jason Mark Yates' website at www.jasonmarkyates.com
Reverbnation site: www.reverbnation.com/jasonmarkyates
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