Album Review : Just Jack - All Night Cinema
- Written by Kenneth McMurtrie
The name rang a bell. Didn't this bloke have a song out last year that got so much airplay it began to annoy me? Could be. I've not got around to checking. Whatever negative thoughts his name may have originally conjured up for me are of no import as this album stands very steadily on it's own feet. Like a male Lily Allen, if that's not some sort of a contradiction or even a condescencion.
Eleven tracks with simple titles, chirpy tunes and some amusing wordplay make this a welcome arrival on the scene at this stage in the summer. Right from the urgent strings and flamenco handclaps on opening song 'Embers' you're uplifted and aware that there's an enjoyable listening experience ahead. Ideal music for the bus into town on a Saturday night (use your headphones though, there's a good chap) when a few pints with your mates are on the cards.
'253' begins with an initial bassline that had me thinking of The Cure but that hardly lasts before this tale of an unwinding modern suburban relationship ("fading like her favourite jeans") gets down to business. More well employed strings underpin a solid, stomping tune. Despite its morbid title, song three 'The Day I Died' is a cheery ode to getting through the 9-to-5 life but you do need to keep your eyes on the road when your head's in the clouds.
Does the NHS prescribe the remedy for obssessing over uber sexy members of the opposite gender? Probably not. Either way our man's appealing for some in 'Doctor Doctor' as the object of his lust exits his vision without so much as a glance. Hard luck but there's always next weekend. 'So Wrong' cleverly plays out almost the same scenario but from the perspective of a more calculating and mature female. The track gets a bit flabby towards the end though. 'Blood' is a worthy attempt to chronicle an inner city stabbing that only just fails to come off emotionally.
'Astronaut' neatly sends up the life of a London slacker and his family, a bit like a Noughties 'Our House' crossed with 'Alfie'. Almost, if you close your left eye. Things go all cod-electro on 'Goth In The Disco', definitely the funniest cut here as well as being one of the best observed and most bittersweet. Cheer up Goth. This should be a single if it's not already.
Curiously the album closer is an instrumental called 'Basement' but you might as well put the weakest of your output as the last song I suppose. Stick it on repeat and it makes for a good run up to the first song. As second albums go there are a few folk who'll definitely do worse this year.
