REVIEW: J.P. Soars “Brick By Brick” – Americana Highways
J.P. Soars – Brick By Brick
After listening to many albums, I thought this was another round of the same subjects, topics & issues with a twangy country voice with pop-country sensibility & quasi-bluesy or valium-induced lo-fi tones. But no…no. That’s not what this is. It’s an aggressive 11-track country rock stirred slowly under a blue flame.
If Captain Beefheart decided to go country blues-rock this may have been what he might have sounded like. Especially on “Brick By Brick,” which is superb. Followed by a J.J. Cale musical exercise in “Jezebel,” with Tex-Mex & Delta textures that are laid out with skill & ballsy rhythms. But still, with that growl & finesse of Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) unvarnished & splendid vocal tone.
Produced by Arkansas-native JP Soars (vocals/guitars/dobro/banjo/bass/lap steel/two-string cigar box guitar/jaw harp & Merlin stick dulcimer) & Jeremy Staska (percussion) the songs are spikey & propulsive with lots of musical mortar between Brick By Brick (Drops June 30/Little Village/46:30).
This collection isn’t without bare-bones barn dancing rollicking melodies. “Can’t Keep Her Off My Mind” is a genuine backwoods bonfire of a song. And while Soars sings the song with plenty of gusto what I found exceptionally attractive was the charged-up backup vocalizing framed by Anne Harris’ fiddle, JP’s banjo & all the other stringed instruments that were wonderfully tightly interplayed. Do you want something exciting? I give you “Can’t Keep Her Off My Mind.”
There are acoustic guitar finger-picking instrumental interludes that set a nice pace between everything else. A Captain Beefheart-like tone is strong on the funky & soulful “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” which features some sax. The way Soars applies his vocals is embedded in a deep & at times Howlin’ Wolf blues-type narrative also. Nothing but bluesy sweat authenticity seeps from his pores.
Swampier & with a whiskey baptized voice comes a Tony Joe White (“Polk Salad Annie”) type tune — the preachy piece “The Good Lord Will Provide.” We get an idea of what Howlin’ Wolf would sound like had he been born in this century, with this technology & was a multi-instrumentalist.
It’s a tight ideal showcase throughout by a pro who’s an artist.
Highlights – “Brick By Brick,” “Jezebel,” “Can’t Keep Her Off My Mind,” “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” “The Good Lord Will Provide,” “Honey and Hash,” “Merlin Stomp” & “Things Ain’t Workin’ Out.”
Musicians – Chris Peet (drums/bass), Raul D. Hernandez (percussion), Bob Taylor (Hammond B3), Paul DesLauriers & Annika Chambers (bgv), Rockin’ Jake Jacobs (harmonica) & Terry Hanck (tenor sax).
