Album Details

• Artist: Jak
• Album: Age Of Anxiety
• Label: Wind Bonnet Records
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2009-03-19

The name of this singer/songwriter leads me to believe something tougher than I imagined. Once again, names can be deceiving, and Jak can be considered your neo-storyteller. With not much of a backdrop available on his website or myspace, I'm going to get straight into the music...

Most songs on the album are echoey, heartfelt, quiet little acoustic ballads with a minimal instrumentation. Friends & Lovers is a nicely written track with a bit of a mosaic of energies, soft and progressive.

One New City showcases a teasing vocal range, and by that I mean a tone and lyricism that dances in and out of high-pitch with a cocky raspyness. The rhythm is enjoyable, and the main verse chord resembles at least half of The Police's catalogue, which can not be scoffed at. Seasons Change is also upbeat but I think Jak goes a bit out of range at times and its only the back up music that saves him.

Almost like the good 'ole days of cassettes, look for the first four songs to be the wilder, more energetic Jak. Look to the last four songs for his acoustic and melancholy side. Though it's missing that eye popping aspect or seedling, think of Jak as an up and coming singer with the potential of being exposed heavily to the Mix (Adult Contemporary) station crowd. He just needs a little extra spunk or element of surprise -besides his name- to get there.

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