Divide and Conquer Review USA 13th Aug 2021 "If you’re looking for highly polished writing and playing, John Jenkins has got it all" here

"If you’re looking for highly polished writing and playing, John Jenkins has got it all here"

John Jenkins - If You Cant Forgive You Cant Love - 4.0 out of 5 - By Dino DiMuro 

Liverpool recording artist John Jenkins has just released his first album for Fretsore Records, If You Can’t Forgive You Can’t Love. Formerly of the ‘80s bands The Persuaders and Come in Tokio, Jenkins went “underground” for years, writing songs in the roots and country (or Americana) genre. Between 2015 and 2020 he released four major albums before writing these new songs for his Fretsore debut. 

Jenkins’ influences range from Nanci Griffith to Bruce Springsteen, John Prine to The Beatles, and most especially Townes Van Zandt. Musically this is no homegrown affair: the press kit states that “some of the finest studio musicians in Liverpool” contributed to this collection. Co-producer John Lawton plays several instruments; Rob Vincent adds background vocals and harmonica. Lee Shone plays keyboards and Dave Orford handles the drum kit with Amy Chalmers directing the string section. Recording and mixing took place at Liverpool’s Crosstown Studios with mastering by Peter Maher. 

Thematically, this album is “the lyrical soundtrack to an insouciant road trip, soon darkened by triggers and reminders of people and places long gone from our lives. The themes of travel and transcending the landscapes of one’s life is prevalent throughout.” This is the kind of album where you’re hard pressed to find a dud, so I’ll discuss my favorite songs. 

“A Stranger To Your Heart” lays out the Jenkins template, to wit: smooth, endearing vocals, lush acoustic guitars, and a sudden kick into rock combo wonderment with Amy Chalmers’ strings adding class and dimension. I’m hearing the chords and thinking “that’s a pretty basic pattern” but somehow they hit the spot every time, maybe because of the sharp economy of the studio players. 

“Is That What They Say” starts out like Irish traditional before honing in on a more Americana sound, thanks to the harmonica and the fiddle-like strings. I’ll say it now and it will bear repeating: the players on this project are tops, and their contributions are unerringly tasteful. This song is basically the album’s title track as the refrain “If you can’t forgive, you can’t love” pops up here. 

“The Last Train From Baltimore” lowers the house lights for a song with “themes of tragedy and the ever difficult narrative of accounting for one’s own past mistakes.” Said to be based on a true story, it’s a horrific tale about a train engineer who runs over some kids playing on the tracks, and his lifetime of pain and regret. “Hold me as I sleep / as that moment plays itself out once more.” The string section is quite effective. 

“Moon and June” has a bit of an acoustic R.E.M. feel for a simpler, jangly, innocent-sounding tune. “The Wrong Side Of Sadness” starts off as gospel, then struck me as a pretty basic pop rock song; however, the chorus has an interesting twist that kicks it up a notch or two! Rockin’ piano by Lee Shone seals the deal. 

“Strangers On A Train” has a duet and co-writing credit with Alison Benson, a song of “broken dreams and fractured relationships; think Cat Stevens meets Alison Krauss.” I could tell this track was special without even being alerted by the press release, and I’d even dare to mention Leonard Cohen in comparison. “Hearts and Minds” has an upbeat bluegrass feel with its banjos and fiddles. 

“Living Someone Else’s Life” has a nice, laid back, acoustic Jimmy Webb vibe. “The End of Summer” sounds very commercial in a Burt Bacharach way, again with really nice harmony vocals (by Alison Benson again, I believe). A bit commercial for me but undeniably sweet. “When The Morning Comes” is every bit as commercial but in a more Monkees pop sense, and I dig it! That pop rock sheen really explodes in the big finale “Desert Hearts” which may be the best song on the album. It’s driving and melodic with a complex arrangement and surprising harmonic changes and hooks aplenty. The strings seemed to have stepped out from a 1960’s hit factory. 

​If you’re looking for highly polished writing and playing, John Jenkins has got it all here, and I’m sure he’ll continue to release smart and polished music well into the future.

 

https://www.divideandconquermusic.com/indie-music-album-reviews/john-jenkins-if-you-cant-forgive-you-cant-love

Leave a comment