https://americana-uk.com/auks-monthly-eps-round-up-september-2024#respond

“Absolutely breathtaking, and one of the best tracks I've heard all year”

“Collecting these tracks all together on one EP, marks "Weary", out as a must have and comes highly recommended.”

Next up we have the new six-track EP 'Weary' from one of Liverpool's finest songwriters of recent years, John Jenkins. 

Having made his name with local post-punk bands of the eighties, The Persuaders and Come In Tokio, Jenkins returned to the music scene back in 2015 with a set of songs more rooted to the singer-songwriter medium so enjoyed by the americana music fraternity. 

His sixth and most recent album "Tuebrook", came out last year receiving high praise from these pages with our very own Paul Russell stating "Jenkins is fast becoming one of Liverpool's most respected singer songwriters".  

The six tracks on this new EP, sees Jenkins revisiting the tracks that didn't make the cut for the last album, not because they weren't good enough but simply because they didn't suit the album's intimate arrangement. 

Nothing emphasises that point more than the EP's title track and opening number, for though it starts with all the gently simplicity that marked "Tuebrook" out as one of last years highlights, with acoustic guitar and vocals caressing the airwaves, the track subtly moves through the gears, building to a crescendo, complete with a horn section and stunning backing vocals from Helen Shanley that lifts the track to a rousing gospel finale. Absolutely breathtaking, and one of the best tracks I've heard all year. 

The remaining five tracks have all been released this year as singles and though not as grandiose as the title track, each track maintains the quality, especially the wistful 'Do You Ever Think Of Me', the high tension of 'I Don't Want To Be That Guy', and personal favourite 'The Reason', that showcases Jenkins mastery of the reflective lyrical narrative. 

Collecting these tracks all together on one EP, marks "Weary", out as a must have and comes highly recommended.