Wide Mouth Mason

T

aking its name from the jar of the same name, Wide Mouth Mason independently released their first album, The Nazarene (1996). Although only 2,500 copies were pressed, the debut drew interest from major labels; it would be the re-release of the album that attracted the attention of 'Warner Music' Canada. The first major label album would be the band's eponymous release in 1997. This second release established the group's fusion of pop, rock and blues (emphasis on blues) to yield the hit singles Midnight Rain, My Old Self, and This Mourning. The album would go gold in Canada.

Wide Mouth Mason would then release Where I Started (1999), a continuance of its prior sound, but adding elements of jazz and world music; like its predecessor, this album attained gold status in Canada. The album's lead single, Why, backed with scratches and cuts from childhood friend and DJ Muchi Mambo, was a hit in Canada, and was followed by two other hits, Companion (Lay Me Down) and Sugarcane.

Stew (2000) was more pop-oriented than their previous efforts, but also eclectic.

In 2002, Wide Mouth Mason returned with two albums. The first, Rained Out Parade, featured a heavier emphasis on blues, a deliberate lo-fi production style, specifically on the title track. The second album, the compilation, Greatest Hits, was released only in China.