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What does cool sound like? Everyone is going to have different
opinions, different influences, but my version of a list would
have to include the likes of Girls Against Boys, Tom
Waits, Bob Dylan, and now Jackpot. Not that
Jackpot sounds anything like any of the above, although they do
carry a lackadaisical resonance with Bob Dylan, they meld a unique
sound of acoustic folk, rock and a hint of country to form an
amalgamation that is dirty yet pristine, deluded yet sobering,
and lacking any better description: cool. You don't know how much
it is killing me trying to purvey the essence of this sound; it
is like trying to define truth. They just have it, whatever it
is. Technically there is nothing different between this band and
any other nameless one out there; they are just more successful
where the others fall short.
The production of this album borders on perfection. The sound
undulates from track to track maintaining a common theme, but
varying enough to keep my attention. As I alluded to above there
is a distinct presence of duality represented on this album, and
it is carried off brilliantly. Whether it is the half mumble/drawl
of ingenious lyrics, or an isometric shift of character within
a song, the seamless nature that this band presents is amazing.
An example of the latter is in the song "Headlights",
which begins with a quasi-Americana old country base and then
segues into a break featuring nice wah pedal and funk bass action.
There are a lot of experimental experiences here that just seem
effortless to this band; and even their completely straight songs
sound like complex initiatives due to layering of extraneous instruments.
It is only a matter of time before this band hits a bigger audience-
at least I hope so- and they deserve to be heard. Back to front,
this album is solid, with almost every song a memorable one and
radio-ready. "Adventures Galore", "Upside Down"
and "Dizzy" are just plain good songs alone, and meshed
together in this tapestry of an album show the greater skill of
the musicians involved. Just do me a favor, pick up this album
and listen to it. And to Jackpot: Bravo.
-bishop
Track Listing:
1. Adventures Galore
2. Upside Down
3. Vaccine
4. Black Road
5. Headlights
6. Euphoria
7. Windshield Wipers
8. When We Get Together
9. Dizzy
10. If We Could Go Backwards
11. Airplanes And Secrets
12. Long Gone
13. Charlie Watts Is God
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