Here's another new review from one of the bigger on-line review sites, DEMO UNIVERSE. They're pretty tough on "pop/alternative" albums, but they were really nice to us, and we thank them. If you ever need the scoop on a DIY release, check out their site at: http://www.demouniverse.com/

James, Mark Aaron Mr. Wirehead This well-connected Nashville singer-songwriter gathered a band of talented young pros for an album of extremely enjoyable, ridiculously marketable pop-rock. Sounding uncannily like mid-career Elvis Costello most of the time, James shoots his arrow straight at the heart of VH1 and scores a bulls-eye every time. Acknowledging his debt to Billy Joel, Tom Petty, James Taylor, Joe Cocker and The Beatles, James proudly aligns himself with Del Amitri, Counting Crows, Matthew Sweet and The Wallflowers. I can see no reason why he can't join them on the charts. Mr. Wirehead is everything a cool DIY reviewer is supposed to loathe, but as I sit here, bobbing my head and tapping my toes (and sipping my vodka), I must finally admit -- I like it!

From Nashville's daily newspaper, the TENNESSEAN. Feb. 24th, 1999
OUR PICKS:
No, that's not Mark Aaron James depicted on the cover of his CD, Mr. Wirehead. Actually that freaky cover dude with the rainbow-colored Mohawk hairstyle is a clock. And no, the Mohawk clock guy doesn't mean James does the punk rock thing, either. Rather, that image and its accompanying title track reveal James' wry sense of humor, which he also displays on such songs as This Song's All About ... and the sobering Autobiography of a Pistol. All this on rootsy yet modern rock that's quite Crow-like - both Sheryl and Counting Crows.
- Rick de Yampert, music writer

From the NY ROCK site and magazine
You can check out their site at www.nyrock.com

http://www.nyrock.com/streetbeat/0299.htm#mark
Mark Aaron James, Mr. Wirehead (©1998 Mark Aaron James)
Anyone who writes an entire song about a chotchka, and then goes on to make it the title track of an album is either crazy or ingenious • and immediately wins me over. Not many people can pen a poignant love tune, but to write one about an inanimate object is a real feat. Not to dwell on eccentricity here, I should say that Mark Aaron James has a knack for writing truly clever lyrics about anything from love to the state of society • and he has the industry recognition to prove it (i.e., James won the 1998 Unisong Songwriting Competition, the CD was chosen as one of the top 12 editor's picks of Performing Songwriter magazine, and his songs have been performed by Jimmy Buffet among others). His release, Mr. Wirehead is filled with laid-back pop rock tunes in the vein of James Taylor. The songs are easy on the ears and highlighted by Mark's casual, clear vocal style and songwriting skills. On the recording, the backing musicians • the Borrowed Souls • beautifully and inconspicuously fill out Mark's voice and guitar. To purchase the CD or find out more about MAJ, check his Web site.