MARK WATSON BAND: Coulda..Shoulda..Woulda..

Mark Watson Band

Coulda..Shoulda..Woulda..

© 2000 Big Blast Records (685665200028)

Great power pop with big guitars and big harmonies. MWB delivers all the punch and hooks that power pop afficianodos die for. Critics hailed the CD as "The album Joe Jackson forgot to make...".

notes

“Here is a band worth getting very excited about.
Look no further to satisfy your search for tough pop hooks.” --Shake It Up Magazine

MARK WATSON BAND’s sound can be traced back to the suburbs of Chicago when Mark Watson would sit in his basement and play his favorite albums on his parents’ stereo. The guitar rock of Kiss and Cheap Trick competed for airplay with the pure melodies and harmonies of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. Mark Watson Band showcases these influences to create the modern power pop sound that earned the band critical raves for “coulda…shoulda…woulda”, their full-length album released in 2000 on Big Blast Records. The single, “The King Of Big Mistakes” received airplay on over 80 college, public, and international radio stations from as far away as Australia, Portugal, and Turkey. The song drew praise from many DJs and
critics. The Buffalo Beat said, "’The King Of Big Mistakes’ should be on power pop compilations for years to come.”

reviews

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  • Here's a talent worth getting very excited about.
    author: Shake it Up! The world of POP!

    Here's a talent worth getting very excited about. The Mark Watson Band, who recently released coulda...shoulda...woulda, push their guitar/bass/drums format forward through fourteen solid Tracks. Look no further than Past The Grays, It's Gonna Take Patience, and Fine to satisfy your search for tough pop hooks. On top of all that, Watson may turn out to be one of the more underrated writers in pop today - the man often has remarkable pop instincts. Oh yeah, he plays a pretty mean guitar, too. A real find.

  • To sum up, coulda…shoulda…woulda is going in my keeper pile. The rest of you can
    author: Tom Lydde

    If there is one thing I can honestly say about Mark Watson, it's that the man has heart. Every song on his new CD coulda…shoulda…woulda simply overflows with honesty and conviction. The listener can't help but feel his pain, revel in his successes and smirk at his observations, all the while entertained by Mark's well-crafted, catchy pop songs. For every song about his failure to get on with his life after a break up, his regret over unfulfilled dreams or even his inability to play the guitar as well as Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads; there is a song about new romance, conquering past heartaches or poking fun at others. Assuming that all of these songs are autobiographical, Mark wears his heart on his sleeve and lays out his life for all to see. A risky venture, but a necessary risk for any artist hoping to make great music. And make great music he does. With the exception of a short 1:30 intro, Mark Watson wrote and produced all of the songs on this 14-track release. He performed all of the guitar and bass parts along with a little percussion and all of the vocals with the exception of a female part on one song. His backing band is mainly comprised of drummer Dave Wilk with an occasional piano/organ part by Scott Bennett and an even more occasional conga performance by Earl Talbott. Overall coulda…shoulda…woulda is a very professionally produced package and includes great performances all around. Although Mark's vocals can be gritty and in some cases hampered by a limited range, he overcomes this with the pure heart of his delivery and honesty of his lyrics. Standouts include "The King of Big Mistakes" which kicks right into a great sing-along chorus, "All Right", "Can You Feel It" and "Fine". "Darwin Was Right" and "Eddie" are favorites for the pure entertainment value of the lyrics. Mark Watson can certainly paint a picture and lines like "Your mother was a nag / And you did it too, and it was a drag" are simply priceless to anyone with an ex-girlfriend roaming the planet. To sum up, coulda…shoulda…woulda is going in my keeper pile. The rest of you can do what you want.

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