Bought an iPod many many years ago that came with free songs. One song just stunned me and I checked every Incubus album for it (it was a shuffle so I couldn't study track names/artists).
Then I figured out it was JBT, "What You Want." Remains one of my fav songs to this day, never been removed from the iPod Shuffle....
So I bought Sunrise Over Seas and just knocked me out, fantastic album. Loved his electrified acoustic sound, blending the mic'd acoustic sound with that Marshall amp back there, getting the feedback all blended in so sweet. Just an amazing sound. That's really what hooked me -- his layered guitar sound.
But his lyrics were awesome, the arrangements just stunning -- just great music. But he was always playing festivals in the Bay Area, shows I couldn't or wouldn't make the effort for, so it took me quite some time to catch him live, four years....
But soooo worth the wait, here's the review:
http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.ph ... r#p3335361 Don't have his last 2 albums yet, the show boot is in constant rotation though, JBT should open for Pearl Jam! I've constantly put JBT down in the forums as "Bands I'd Recommend" around here. I'm surprised he and Eddie have never crossed paths, at least that's been talked about, so many common elements between them.
For that matter, don't have his first record either, Three. Just Sunrise and Grand National, but both are in heavy rotation. The new stuff (in 2010) didn't click with me as much as Sunrise, and at first I was bummed that he was changing up his bandmates so much -- some misguided internalization by me that "Oh, now he's big, he's ditching the folks that helped get him there!" But his explanations ring true, pick the right musicians for the right mood and what not -- and his old mates all had other projects they returned to.
Regardless of all that, he is a phenomenal live act -- all those years of busking I'd say, so comfortable and open and honest. Just a good, good soul, great vibe, definitely in that Jack Johnson mold of awareness, more so even. And a good dose of Marley, Matthews, Snoop!!! hehehe.
Hope he brings the Tin Shed to the States!
Announcement | 
Sticky | 
Unread posts | 
No unread posts | 
Locked | 
Moved | 
Popular