Jack Wilson: Jack Wilson – Music Review

If you’re prone to swooning, beware.  If it’s not the original folk-rock songwriting and easy acoustic guitar, it’s the striking blue eyes, handsome face and beard that would make a Confederate general nod in approval.  If it’s none of those, it might well be the whiskey.  In any case, Jack Wilson, artist and self-titled record, will make an impression like a memorable late summer night.

It’s a rare treat to come across a singer/songwriter who knows himself and his groove; to find one who knows how to push the boundaries yet remain true to self is a greater treat still.  While keeping his native Austin flavor, Wilson stirs in occasional rock elements reminiscent of Van Morrison’s (maybe even Counting Crows’) horn section, the ease of James Taylor or the storytelling of Don McLean–all while owning it and appealing to his original audience in the Seattle music scene.  Smart.  Most everything about “Jack Wilson” seems right.

Each track on the album has its strength; slow tempos dominate.  Wilson’s voice lacks polish but it works for the genre, and the ear always has something to appreciate, be it a fiddle, a harmony, a change in time signature or a fun little twist, like the deceptive cadence at the end of “Dogwood Days,” which is a favorite track of mine.  “I know home’s just a word and a dream and a picture and you and me,” he sings intimately.

Not everything is so neat or pretty, however.  A few of the upbeat tracks are definitely more scattershot–lyrics and changing beats that make you want to scratch your head.  The closing track, “The Cure” is one such number, but in the end what you’re left with is the feeling that you have indeed found the cure to something, if only to mediocre indie-folkers who try too hard.

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For More Information Visit:
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http://www.jack-wilson.com
http://twitter.com/jackwilsonmusic
http://www.myspace.com/jackwilsonmusic

Author: David Conner