steve gilmore SoundClick Guru
Joined: 23 Apr 2002 Posts: 2632 Location: United Kingdom Status:
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Posted: 08 Apr 2006 07:31 pm Post subject: Steve Gilmore Reviews: Jim-n-Lisa - Jihad |
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Artist: Jim-n-Lisa
Title: Jihad
Link: here OR Download
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While it's nice that the last couple of months have been quite good on
the new name front, I must admit that I felt the loss of some of SC's
more well-known names. So it was a welcome relief to see that this
month was going to be different and already I've had some pleasant
encounters with some old friends. I shamefully admit that I had to
arm-wrestle Jimbo-Bob-thingy into putting down his john hancock this
month, but hey I'm a desperate man, what can I tell you? See, that is
the hidden cost of the kind of reviewing schedule I keep to, there is
just no time whatsover for any other kind of listening. So when someone
pipes up 'hey new tune up!!' I generally HAVE to pass it by and hope
that it comes up on the list somehow. As you can imagine I am plagued
by locusts who whisper 'what do you think of this?' or 'here's one you
might like' or 'peep my poop' or whatever the latest word fad is...
Fact is, I can't listen to a damn thing, so stop emailing I and I....otherwise I'll fatwa your ass...
Speaking of fatwas, old favourites Jim-n-Lisa return to the fray with a
cheery little number about the spiritual bliss that comes from slicing
and dicing your neighbours, family and friends. I snarfed the 320k
version because if there is one thing I love it's the J-n-L production
sound and this track is no exception; a sound vision as wide as the
Texas skies that shelter these Soundclick veterans. One of the reasons
I picked this outfit for my Artist Of The Year 2004 was their promise,
and every track I have heard since then has confirmed that promise and
more besides. At this stage of the game, Jim-n-Lisa are one of the
better known bands around and most of the kudos for that has to be down
to their often uncompromising style. Never one to take an easy musical
path, J-n-L often go out of their way to surprise and confound even the
most avid fan (ie me).
Jihad, for example, is nothing like I expected it to be. I expected
a solid, red-hot angry rant about (and I quote) 'leaders (who) don't
believe in the science that powers their weapons' but what we get is an
exceptional blend of rock and jazzy structures that put me instantly in
mind of the '60's band the Soft Machine.
More by instrumental sound and song structure rather than vocally mind,
because there ain't no-one who sounds quite like Robert Wyatt.
Nonetheless, Jim has a fair set of pipes on him too and he shows off
his tonsilar pecs off on this track with admirable skill. Speaking of
pipes, Jim's also a well respected horn man, and again on this track he
shows why - the tone is to die for. Jihad is not going to win any
prizes in accessability because there's a lot more here to chew on than
in any other ten tracks, but given time and patience you will find that
this is the reason why J-n-L are so well known and respected.
Ooozes class. Highly Recommended.
Steve Gilmore
SG Reviews - The Blog
Soundclick * Songplanet * MP3 Unsigned * Acid Planet * Indiehitz * Vitamin C |
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