Jamie Kent - All-American Mutt
Making over two hundred live
appearances a year, placing high on the bill of major music festivals, and
touring with iconic musical units has prompted a blossoming in Jamie Kent’s
talent that was always coming. It was just a matter of time. His promise has
been evident since his 2009 recording debut and the ever increasing profile
he’s enjoyed since then is a testament to talents that set him far apart from
today’s average Nashville songwriter. His skills for exploring a variety of
different musical styles in a convincing fashion isn’t common magic and his
comfort singing in these different modes has no discernible differences. The
ten songs are well balanced in their stylistic spectrum and never favor one
approach over another. This gives the release an ultimately cohesive effect
that few albums ever really achieve and the masterful track listing plays a
significant part in that.
The title song starts off the album
with confidence and music that’s never ornamental. There’s flair in the bass
line that listeners would have never associated with a Nashville based musical
outfit even twenty years ago. The rock and country influences informing this
performance match quite well and the populist feelings of Kent’s lyric get a
fantastic vocal from him. There’s a bit of Jimmy Buffett creeping in on the
good time vibes of “Last Call”, but Kent plays this song a little straighter
and it creates a nice contrast. The layered musical arrangement powering “Home
Again” has simplicity working for it as well, but Kent’s songwriting once again
accomplishes surprising result through stark contrasts. The soft ache of the
playing here dovetails nicely into Kent’s muted and sorrowful vocal. The
inventively played and arranged “Be Your Man” ranks as one of the most jovial
moments on the album and the upswing of Kent’s vocals reflect the same
yearning.
“Diamond” is the album’s breeziest
number by far, but it never feels rushed. This is an outright love song filled
with that first flush of commitment you feel when it feels like you’ve met the
partner of your dreams. There are hints of other things going on lyrically
here, but the dominant mood is quite upbeat. All-American Mutt’s greatest
ballad comes with “Red Rover” and, in part, the reason for the song’s stature
is thanks to Kent dueling with second vocalist Michaela Anne in a slowly
developing and deeply emotional duet. The song’s musical arrangement has an
almost painterly quality – the sparse elements gain added emphasis over time
and, eventually, the incandescent individual parts of the song result in a much
greater whole. The final blast of fun for listeners comes with the track
“Sheila” thanks to guest Huey Lewis’ rollicking harmonica and the inspiration
in Kent’s vocal. It’s his most playful performance by far. All-American Mutt is
a powerful album from beginning to end and there are no real lulls in the
journey. This is a well-presented musical affair that doesn’t cheat the
listener and engages them on a physical and mental level alike.
9 out of 10 stars
Montey Zike
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