Luke Jackson: ...And Then Some (CD on Popsicle Records)

Band: Luke Jackson
Label: Popsicle Records
Title: ...And Then Some

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Band:Luke Jackson
Title:...And Then Some
Reviewed By:Malcolm Carter
Date Published:03/11/2010

Label:Popsicle Records
Format:CD
Release Year:2008
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Much has been made about this, Canadian singer-songwriter Jackson’s third solo album, being recorded in an all-analogue studio near Malmö in southern Sweden. The thought that some of that power-pop magic that more than a handful of Swedish bands seem to have captured would rub-off or into these ten original Jackson songs has really excited certain parts of the music industry. The fact is that while it’s certain that without the sound that studio brought to the songs, without the help of producer, multi-instrumentalist and all-round musical genius Christoffer Lundquist and without the string arrangements by Robert Kirby the album certainly wouldn’t have sounded so lush and well, just so damn perfect, it’s all down to the song at the end of the day and by focusing a lot of attention on the above factors a lot of people are forgetting one thing ; Luke Jackson wrote these songs alone and if he had recorded them with just voice and guitar they would still shine.

But Jackson didn’t record them alone. He chose, through a chain of events, to record “with my favourite musicians on the planet” and for his music to be heard and appreciated by a wide audience maybe he was right. But for all the excellent work the outstanding musicians and Robert Kirby put into these recordings we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that Jackson is one very talented songwriter and it’s hard to imagine songs of this quality failing to impress no matter where they were recorded. We all know that a good producer and studio can make a mediocre song and singer sound fairly good so by the same token we should remember that when a songwriter is as talented as Jackson then few on this planet could make his songs sound anything but interesting.

The album opens with a power-pop classic; ‘Come Tomorrow’ is all chiming guitars, harmonies that Brian Wilson would be proud of and a tune that will capture you the very first time you hear it. It’s feel-good music…and then some. The main guitar solo which is handled by Jackson sounds like it was sent down from heaven on a cloud and will put a smile on the face of any power-pop fan.

Jackson follows that opening song with a ballad which was totally unexpected, again the melody is superb, the musicians involved, Lundquist on electric guitar, vibraphone and fender rhodes, Magnus Börjeson (The Cardigans) on bass and Jens Jansson (Brainpool) on drums, pull out all the stops to make ‘This Life’ a beautiful, stunning piece of music but what really takes this song from great to classic status is the string arrangement by Robert Kirby. The way the strings merge with the guitars is a stroke of genius. This song has been compared with the work of Paul McCartney but it goes beyond that. Needless to say if McCartney could come up with something as outstanding as ‘This Life’ today it would be hailed as an instant classic.

It’s not a one-off either. The following song, ‘Trouble’ continues in the same vein this time without any input from Kirby but with yet another melody which just flows along so effortlessly this time it’s Lundquist who adds texture with his flute playing. ‘Trouble’ also showcases just what an outstanding vocalist Luke Jackson is. Yet another simply beautiful song.

Jackson displays a little humour in his lyrics to ‘Goodbye London’ where he returns to a more frenzied power-pop sound and lines like, “Who’s gonna fleece me on a Friday/Who’s gonna offer me cheap skunk/Who’s gonna sing ‘I did it my way’ whenever I get drunk?”. Even on these up-beat songs Jackson never loses sight of an extremely catchy tune.

‘A Little Voice’ is another heartbreaking ballad framed with Kirby’s string arrangement. That Jackson can go from such a delicate song with just acoustic guitar and strings to ‘Half A World Away’ which is another of his more up-tempo songs featuring more catchy guitar runs without the album sounding disjointed proves the quality of his song writing.

The short instrumental, ‘1970’s Kids TV Show Theme’, complete with the sound of someone washing the dishes in the background could well have interrupted the flow of the album though but again it’s such a sweet and catchy little tune it can’t help but raise a smile.

The album closes with ‘The Fear’ another of Jackson’s string-laden ballads, Kirby’s arrangement is simply stunning and with Jackson on top form vocally this is a song that can’t fail to move you.

Early in October of this year Jackson took part in a Robert Kirby Memorial Concert in London along with Teddy Thompson, Vashiti Bunyan and Paul Weller to pay tribute to the man whose string arrangements have graced and lifted numerous albums throughout the years. For many of us the name of Robert Kirby will forever be associated with the work of Nick Drake and with Jackson due to run a tribute night for Kirby in Toronto on 28th November it’s heart-warming to see musicians keeping the excellent work of Kirby in the public eye.

‘…And Then Some’ has been available in some territories for a couple of years now but has only just gained a U.K. release on Jackson’s own Popsicle label so hopefully it won’t be too long before we hear from the great man again. But for now ‘…And Then Some’ deserves all the acclaim it has and will receive. It’s an absolute classic.

Track Listing:

01) Come Tomorrow
02) This Life
03) Trouble
04) Goodbye London
05) A Little Voice
06) Half A World Away
07) All I Can Do
08) 1970s Kids TV Show Theme
09) Longest Day
10) The Fear

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Stunning third album from Canadian singer-songwriter Luke Jackson, recorded in Sweden and with the late strings-arranger Robert Kirby, who infamously worked with Nick Drake

Luke Jackson:Interview
Malcolm Carter talks to England-born, but Canadian-based singer-songwriter Luke Jackson about his third album,'...And Then Some', which was recorded in Sweden with Nick Drake's strings arranger, the late Robert Kirby

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...And Then Some - CD
Stunning third album from Canadian singer-songwriter Luke Jackson, recorded in Sweden and with the late strings-arranger Robert Kirby, who infamously worked with Nick Drake

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