CD Review: MWG – Mark Wayne Glasmire

12 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on CD Review: MWG – Mark Wayne Glasmire

MWG – Mark Wayne Glasmire (Traceway Records, 2012)

(by UCN contributing writer Joe Ross)

Always keeping his own “eyes on a brand new horizon,” Mark Wayne Glasmire’s journey has taken him to Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee and Texas. It’s because the guitarist, songwriter and singer is out of his mind over music. He believes good songs can make a difference in the world. When you hear the seven on MWG, you’ll realize that it’s his heart doing the talking as he sings a fun, self-penned song such as ‘I Like You.’ In fact, much like the songs on his 2000 album (All of My Heart), he continues to show his affinity for imaginative writing about relationships. Then he delivers the songs with wisdom, commitment and personality. A full cast of country session players help him maximize the songs’ emotional gravity. While his acoustic guitar may have natural mahogany or rosewood tones, there’s also no denying the earthiness of Glasmire’s vocal ambiance. ‘Last of a Dying Breed,’ for example, is an assertive statement about working hard, self-reliance, accountability and compassion. ‘Going Home’ is a moving ballad about an armed services member heading home after a 36-year career where “second chances are rare.”

If there’s an anthem for the up-and-coming country musician and his study, self-assured music, then it’s ‘Now I Believe.’ Written as a love song, it exudes a level of confidence that should bring him many “bright, sunny crystal clear days” in all aspects of his life and career. As ‘The Moment’ brings this showcase EP to closure (just as he does with his live shows), Glasmire expresses a bit of self-doubt and apprehension but also optimism and gratitude as he contemplates his life’s direction. He says, “So I thank you for taking a moment/And listening to me sing my songs/I hope that the words will stay with you/When I’m gone…”

The music left me smiling, and I’m sure it will do the same for you. Mark Wayne Glasmire has a fairly modest goal of simply being able to make a living with his music. With this new album release, the grand prize winner in the country song division of the 2010 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is well on his way.

Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Liv Carter

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