417) Jack - The Jazz Age

I had a look what Anthony Reynolds is up to now, the most recent news story was from two years ago telling us he was made homeless and a crowd fund page had been set up to help him, I am writing this the same week that Robbie Willaims has decided to be the sponsor of his beloved Port Vale because he has clearly made millions from music, and people tell me there is a  God.

Reynolds was the lead singer of Jack who are one of the many bands we have discussed that made critically acclaimed albums and sold the square root of bugger all. The Jazz Age was their second album after their well-received debut Pioneer Soundtracks sold sod all as well. 

The record opens with a solid minute of orchestral music before the drums arrive and we have 3 O’clock in the Morning. It’s a perfect opener because it does exactly what an opener is meant to do draws you in and makes you want more, extremely dramatic. 

They follow this with Pablo which could have been released by Bowie peak Ziggy all stomping drums and guitars, it’s great, says the recent Bowie convert. 

My World Versus Your World has one of those shuffling beats and nagging guitars that I am a sucker for. Saturday’s Plan is haunting and reminds me of my dad’s Neil Diamond records when I was young, which again is a good thing as I should think more about my dad who has been gone a long time and Nico’s Children is a song that builds with depth, damn I’ve used the word dramatic.

Lolita Elle is where I am really hearing Suede this is good Suede not A New Morning Suede and Cinematic could not be more aptly named, beautiful violin.

Steamin’ is a great Scottish word for being drunk and Reynolds nails it here with “And I feel like I'm gonna be sick. Unless you get over here and give us a kiss.” Why did I never try that with the ladies, nothing else worked so I should have, great shouty vocals from the band.

Love and Death in the Afternoon is one to bang your feet to as the band pound away behind Reynolds and you can shout along the chorus with the band, if they hadn’t split up years ago and Half Cut, Wholly Yours I probably have said to my better half and been told to shut up but there is a lovely simple piano in the background.

We all remember this stormed the charts for months, oh no it was in the top 100 for one whole week and what was the number one the week it made the top 100, Boyzone, let’s all hang our heads in shame.

I hope Anthony Reynolds is back on his feet, and life is good again because he made music that deserved success and in case my bitterness hasn’t clearly shined through, in my opinion, Robbie Williams and Boyzone certainly did not.

8.5/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Saturday’s Plan