biographical info
Fox Pirate is Mike Jackson’s third album released under his Doug Mason moniker. Jackson is a stalwart of the Halifax music scene and has played in countless bands since the late 80s. As with the previous cd, Fox Pirate also features Cliff Gibb on drums, Jarrett Murphy on bass and backing vocals, and Dave Chisholm on guitar and keyboards on select tracks. Jackson however does most of the heavy lifting and gets full credit for all the recording, mixing, and mastering, all of which is done in his home studio, Poutine Village, in Dartmouth.
Like all of Jackson’s work, the album is full of self-deprecation and digs at Haligonians and Canadian music critics alike. The name of the album is a subtle mocking of trendy band names and you will find none of that fadishness in the music – there are no cellos, no ethereal singing, and no chiming bells. This is a straight ahead rock album with none of that fancy stuff, but with lots of hooks and great musicianship all around. This record is full of humour and an attentive listener will find new lyrics to ponder over on every listen.
“Wrapped in a sound reminiscent of the indie-rock scene that dominated this city for nearly a decade, this is music that has serious chops but refuses to take itself too seriously.”
Dave Hayden, The Coast