"Nothin' But Sun"
"Nothin' But Sun" is the just released CD from Jake & the Half Conched Band. It's a somewhat delayed follow-up to 2010's "Salt In My Veins". Jake Thomas and his Half Conked Band seem to take about 4 years between releases, but this one is well worth the wait.
The title track is way more Country than Trop, though it makes multiple references to the ingredients that constitute a Trop song. There's rum, Monday's, weekends, blue skies, and of course the sun. Some Tennessee roots are well above ground in many of the songs, and fans with a heavier leaning toward Nashville will be all about toe-tappin' and shuckin' around the dance hall. That's a good thing. It's also definitely a "beach attitude" collection.
There are too many tracks to discuss individually in detail. However, you'll quickly note the crisp musicianship, Jake's rich lead vocals, and the band's ability to play as one, bonded by time and expertise, are refreshing.My favorite tracks are "Island Girl" and "Tequila Happy". I'm always looking for the party songs in a new CD, and these two jump right out at me. Of course, there's the humor of "Busted in Jamaica", and "Broke on Spring Break". The irony of "Old Beach Star", will appeal to a wide audience, as will the excellent re-boot of Van Halen's "Beautiful Girls".
Every release needs an audience participation song, and "Tequila Happy", has that covered like a beach blanket. If it's love songs you crave, they're in here too. "Disappear" is for those blissfully happy couples, while "Even The Moon Looks Lonely" has the emotions of lost love pleasantly wrapped up for the lovelorn listener.
As I stated at the beginning of this review, there's too much going on here to get into a lot of details. Suffice it to say that, it's a CD that once again demonstrates how very good Jake & The Half Conched Band is.Kevin Johnston co-wrote seven of the eleven songs, something that makes me say "who knew?" The answer to that is probably, "everybody but me". Of course, Jake Thomas has co-written all but the Van Halen tune and one other, while song writer Mike Schultz contributed to all but two of the originals. The "Half Conched" writing team is a hands down winner.
Kevin Johnston again demonstrates his incomparable expertise in the studio. He not only recorded, mixed, and produced the CD, but played keyboard and sang back up vocals. Multi-tasking by such a multi-talented individual, makes Kevin one of a kind.
If I didn't get it for free, which I did, I'd buy it anyway. It's a CD that I recommend without reservation, for purveyors of Trop Rock and Americana (read that, Country) music.Buy it! You'll like it!
By: Don "da Pyrate" Winfield, for "The Shore Radio" www.wnyshoreradio.com
Every release needs an audience participation song, and "Tequila Happy", has that covered like a beach blanket. If it's love songs you crave, they're in here too. "Disappear" is for those blissfully happy couples, while "Even The Moon Looks Lonely" has the emotions of lost love pleasantly wrapped up for the lovelorn listener.
As I stated at the beginning of this review, there's too much going on here to get into a lot of details. Suffice it to say that, it's a CD that once again demonstrates how very good Jake & The Half Conched Band is.Kevin Johnston co-wrote seven of the eleven songs, something that makes me say "who knew?" The answer to that is probably, "everybody but me". Of course, Jake Thomas has co-written all but the Van Halen tune and one other, while song writer Mike Schultz contributed to all but two of the originals. The "Half Conched" writing team is a hands down winner.
Kevin Johnston again demonstrates his incomparable expertise in the studio. He not only recorded, mixed, and produced the CD, but played keyboard and sang back up vocals. Multi-tasking by such a multi-talented individual, makes Kevin one of a kind.
If I didn't get it for free, which I did, I'd buy it anyway. It's a CD that I recommend without reservation, for purveyors of Trop Rock and Americana (read that, Country) music.Buy it! You'll like it!
By: Don "da Pyrate" Winfield, for "The Shore Radio" www.wnyshoreradio.com
