Is there that much new to say in alt-folk? The genre has become so big and established that it’s hardly ‘alt-’ anymore – just regular ol’ ‘folk’ done by individuals under the age of baby boomers. Boston’s Chris Mansfield doesn’t reinvent the (alt-)folk wheel as Fences, but delivers some nice pieces on his self-titled debut full-length.
Mansfield really doesn’t reinvent the wheel when compared to his debut EP, Ultimate Puke (QRO review – thankfully didn’t keep the name…), with half of Puke‘s tracks appearing on the LP. And if he’s gonna reuse, then so is QRO [note: review quote altered to remove non-reused songs]:
Fences begins with the high and pretty alt-folk of "My Girl The Horse", which sets the stage well for what is to come. Mansfield channels his inner Bright Eyes (QRO album review) with "The Same Tattoos", but it’s the stuff you like about Conor Oberst, with Fences’ single-worthy acoustic folk-pop not over-done in the feelings department. There are other tracks where Mansfield gets perhaps a bit too emotional; the soft "Fires" is a touch too soft. But he also varies it up, including "Your Bones", a slightly disco-trance backbeat/background version.
Those comments still hold true (especially the Bright Eyes reference – new closer "From Russia With…" isn’t as out-and-out Oberstian, but still has strains of Conor – the kind you hope he brings on the new Bright Eyes record). New pieces "Hands" and "From Roses" are more sad alt-folk, while "Sadie" brings some rock, and while none are too original, they have some weight.
The standout new track, the standout track, on Fences is easily "Girls With Accents". Its indie-folk with rock moments has been done by others, but Mansfield does it very well (with it following opener/Puke stand-out "Boys Around Here", Fences is a little too frontloaded). Chris Mansfield does need to do more to truly distinguish himself in the under-sixty folk crowd, but he’s got a strong base as Fences.
MP3 Stream: "Girls With Accents"
