Honeydew

Shawn Mullins’ 1998 hit “Lullaby” brought him to mainstream attention, but this Atlanta-based songwriter has talents that go beyond the catchy hook. 2008’s honeydew opens with “All In My Head,” which in its introductory seconds crashes through with a wall of guitar and keyboard that’s pure heartland Tom Petty, working through to a blood-pumping chorus. But while Mullins has anthems in him, he’s most comfortable paying quiet tribute to the people and places that have influenced him. “Home” eulogizes a young Athens, Georgia musician who died of ovarian cancer. “The Ballad of Kathryn Johnston” recounts the fear and tragic circumstances of a frightened woman who fired at police officers who mistakenly broke into her home in search of drug dealers. “Homeless Joe” and “Leaving All Your Troubles Behind” use street-blues shuffles to convey the everyday battles of living and the joys found in little moments that often become life’s turning points. Mullins uses a reporter’s eye and a musician’s heart to find the emotional truth.