#reviewoftheweek / Charlie Mars - The Money

Charlie Mars has been at it for quite some time, but recently he has become a more prominent figure in the Americana music scene, blending his alternative pop with organic instrumentation to deliver some killer music. This album, the third in a collection known as the Texas trilogy, is a testament to Mars as both a musician and a songwriter. The title track, as well as the lead track "Hell Yeah" are the album's cornerstones, and the ones that fans will gravitate towards as their intro to this album. However, it's songs like the remake of his original "Silver Buttons" and "Danger Danger" that bring his musicianship into perspective. Both songs are driven by their lyrics, but show vastly different facets of Mars' musical delivery. It also helps that he's got a talented backing band. One of the most fun tracks on the album is the reggae-infused "Things You Don't Wanna Know" which also showcases some of Mars lyrics in a more playful way. Despite having been released almost a year ago, "The Money" holds up as a highly listenable and accessible musical collection, and is one of those albums that you crave listening to over and over again.

BURN THIS / November 2014

1. Chadwick Stokes "Our Lives Our Time"
2. Brad Corrigan "Anything New"
3. Tristan Prettyman "Perfect Storm"
4. Trevor Hall "Green Mountain State"
5. Roo Panes "Tiger Striped Sky"
6. James Bay "Let It Go"
7. Ben Howard "I Forget Where We Were"
8. Damien Rice "I Don't Want To Change You"
9. Angus & Julia Stone "Get Home"
10. Charlie Mars "Hell Yeah"
11. Lera Lynn "Standing On The Moon"
12. Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors "American Beauty"
13. Gregory Alan Isakov "Amsterdam"
14. The Head And The Heart "Let's Be Still"
15. The Lone Bellow "Then The Morning Comes"
16. The Belle Brigade "Back Where You Began"
17. The Avett Brothers "Bring Me Your Love"
18. Trey Anastasio Band "Bounce"
19. Rebelution "Invasion"
20. SOJA (featuring Alfred The MC) "Promises & Pills"

BURN THIS / September 2014

1. Angus & Julia Stone "A Heartbreak"
2. Mike Doughty "Light Will Keep Your Heart Beating In The Future"
3. The Wind And The Wave "Raising Hands Raising Hell Raise 'Em High"
4. Johnnyswim "Diamonds"
5. Phillip Phillips (featuring Robert Randolph) "Fly"
6. Needtobreathe "Brother"
7. The Wild Feathers "Left My Woman"
8. Marc Broussard "Man Ain't Supposed To Cry"
9. Charlie Mars "The Money"
10. Bahamas "Little Record Girl"
11. Roadkill Ghost Choir "Slow Knife"
12. Kina Grannis "Dear River"
13. Madi Diaz "Stay Together"
14. Sarah Jaffe "Lover Girl"
15. The Dirty Heads "Sound Of Change"
16. SOJA (featuring Anuhea & J Boog) "Easier"
17. Iration "Burn"
18. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad "Steady"
19. Rebelution "More Love"
20. Nahko & Medicine For The People "Dark As Night"

BURN THIS / August 2013

1. Brett Dennen "Wild Child"
2. John Mayer "Wildfire"
3. Charlie Mars "Picture Of An Island"
4. Pete Francis "Make It Right"
5. The White Buffalo "Joey White"
6. Rayland Baxter "Bad Things"
7. Matt Corby "Resolution"
8. Gabrielle Aplin "Please Don't Say You Love Me"
9. Vance Joy "Riptide"
10. Amos Lee "The Man Who Wants You"
11. Jesse Dee "No Matter Where I Am"
12. J.J. Grey & Mofro "Somebody Else"
13. The Cat Empire "Steal The Light"
14. The Dirty Heads "Cabin By The Sea"
15. Pepper "FKARND"
16. Iration "Automatic"
17. The Green "Take Me On"
18. Wild Belle "It's Too Late"
19. Family Of The Year "St. Croix"
20. Matt Pond "Hole In My Heart"

BURN THIS / September 2012

1. Tristan Prettyman "My Oh My"
2. Citizen Cope "Something To Believe In"
3. Charlie Mars "How I Roll"
4. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals "Runaway"
5. Churchill "Change"
6. Sarah Jaffe "Mannequin Woman"
7. Julia Stone "It's All Okay"
8. Ben Howard "Only Love"
9. Ed Sheeran "Small Bump"
10. Neil Halstead "Full Moon Rising"
11. Joshua Radin "Underwater"
12. Joshua Hyslop "Nowhere Left To Go"
13. John Mayer "Fool To Love You"
14. Dispatch "Josephine"
15. Pete Murray "Let You Go"
16. Angus Stone "Wooden Chair"
17. Rayland Baxter "The Mtn Song"
18. The Lumineers "Stubborn Love"
19. Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons "Laura"
20. Brandi Carlile "That Wasn't Me"

New Release Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Charlie Mars - Blackberry Light
• Slightly Stoopid - Top Of The World
• Chadwick Stokes - Simmerkane I And The Fall River Sybils