I first saw Jared James Nichols way back in 2018 at the Muni, on the same bill as Scarlet Rebels and Buffalo Summer, and he blew me away then. However, following an arm injury in October 2021, there was an issue recording and playing, but thankfully not for too long. The album has had a single release of ‘Down The Drain’ so far and it’s a corker of a track (it’s track three on the album). In the early stages it has a real Beatles like sound to the guitar riff (but I can’t think of the song at the moment) but not for long. The grit in his voice soon dispels that sound before the real riff kicks in.
Anyway, to the album. The opener, ‘My Delusion’, is a real raucous rocker which displays all Jared has on offer, a blues based thumping drum/bass/guitar vocal performance that is no nonsense rock ‘n’ roll. After the rapid fire two-minute track, ‘Easy Come Easy Go’ is another toe tapper that will have everyone nodding along when played live and the guitar solo at the breakdown just lays it all on the line: simple blues rhythms and hooks that will really be a staple of his live set.
After ‘Down The Drain’, a real heavy bass/drum driven riff opens up ‘Hard Wired’, the second release from the album. This is much heavier than the previous tracks but it is still another great rock track that has a soaring seething guitar riff at the breakdown. A real upbeat opener occurs in ‘Bad Roots’ that is seriously driven long by a deep thumping drum/bass combination that carries the track through to its screaming guitar solo and its end.
‘Skin ‘n’ Bone’ is another track that is mainly guitar and vocals driven and the vocals sit on top of the instrumentation very well, making it easy for the listeners to determine the lyrics throughout. This is another one that will go down well live. ‘Long Way To Go’ is another two minute rocker from beginning to end. ‘Shadow Dancer’ is a bit different to the other tracks on the album in that it starts slower with distorted guitars that are a bit grungy; it doesn’t detract from the track, just shows the versatility in the writing and playing of JJN and the band. It is also the longest track on the album, at just over five minutes.
‘Good Time Girl’ is a much more upbeat track, but is a real blues-rock pick you up track with staccato lyrical and guitar styling. ‘Hallelujah’ kicks off in a classic Deep Purple style drum/bass rhythm that is another cracking track from beginning to end that shows off the ability of all the band members at the breakdown from drums to guitars and bass. ‘Saint Or Fool’ starts in an almost acoustic vocal/guitar style but not for long; after the first two lines it goes into a much heavier darker style that is a bit akin to Black Sabbath instrumentally. The final track, ‘Out Of Time’ is again a bit Beatles-esque in its opening guitar style that is a bit like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, but the vocals soon dispel that image.
All in all it is a very good album that has its own style but pays homage to its influences subtly in parts. Given the opportunity to see the band live I would wholeheartedly recommend you take the opportunity. If they’re anywhere in my neck of the woods, I will definitely be there!
- ‘Jared James Nichols’ is released tomorrow (Friday 13 January). You can get your copy HERE.
- Jared James Nichols plays The Black Heart in Camden on Wednesday 22 February.
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