AMG Review of Light You Up

Andrew Leahey
All Music Guide

It’s been said before, but it’s worth saying again: those who think Shawn Mullins’ discography starts and stops with his 1998 chart-topper, “Lullaby,” are missing out on one of Atlanta’s better Americana artists. Now in his early forties, Mullins has developed the sort of weary, lived-in baritone that suits his music, and he tailors his folk songs to an adult contemporary audience. As a result, Light You Up bridges the gap between “Lullaby,” with its easygoing acoustic ambiance and PG-rated charm, and 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor, the roots rock album that reignited Mullins’ career in 2006. The songs shine their brightest whenever he digs deep into his Southern heritage, yielding scattered highlights like the boogie-jam-rock of “You Make It Better” and the swampy, six-minute soul number “Light You Up.”