Album Mini-review: Mayer Hawthorne — Man About Town
File next to: Marvin Gaye, The Dramatics, Fitz and the Tantrums
On his 2009 debut, Detroiter Mayer Hawthorne showed just how developed an artist he was; that album – wholly realized on a laptop – was an effective pastiche of classic soul and r&b. The highlight of Hawthorne’s résumé up to that point was his membership in underground hip-hop collectives Athletic Mic League and Now On; that fact made A Strange Arragement all the more amazing. Since that time, he’s made three more albums, an EP and a pair of side projects. Along the way, Hawthorne dabbled in a kind of more mainstream pop. But with Man About Town, he’s returned to the retro-soulful approach that won him plaudits. His romantic, upbeat and generally optimistic point of view shines through on the disc’s ten songs, and in his own way, this accomplished vocalist/musician is turning out timeless soul that synthesizes his influences into pop for modern audiences.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.