Mason Jennings

Mason Jennings’ mild-mannered appeal keeps him from blending in with the more hokey, polished singer-songwriters of his generation. If anything, he’s been able to have it both ways, taking advantage of both the freedom of being a bit under the radar and the popularity of catchy songs written in plain English. On 2009’s Blood Of Man—his second album for Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records—he enjoyed his in-between status as much as ever: He played all the instruments himself, giving a slightly rough, rocking feel to yet another likable set of tunes. His newest is 2011’s Minnesota, a gentle collection of coming-of-age tunes, including the wryly honest piano bouncer “Clutch.”

Updated 09/06/2011