Now It's On

EP Spotlight: Jesse Marchant - Brightest Of Feathers

I first came across Jesse Marchant's music back in 2010 when he recorded as JBM, as you'd probably guess, his initials. A track from his debut album Not Even In July played on whatever Pandora station I was listening to at the time and stopped me in my tracks. That voice, somewhat reminiscent of My Morning Jacket's Jim James, and yes I've seen many a Neil Young comparison also, but still uniquely his own. That music, rooted in folk, Americana and country, with some rock mixed in for good measure. 

The Montreal born Marchant released two albums as JBM, both gorgeous, cinematic, ethereal. He then returned in 2014, now recording under his name with a self titled album that continued his penchant for beautiful soundscapes underneath his stunning voice, although he also rocked a bit more than on the JBM material. Now with his fourth full length near completion and a planned 2018 release, Marchant returns with Brightest Of Feathers, a six track EP that carries on what drew me to his music in the first place. 

The title cut opens things and it's a beauty. A slow, shuffling drum beat, melancholy guitar work and Marchant's echoed voice out front where it should be. There's a vulnerability to the lyrics on this one and it ranks amongst his his best ballads to date. Things close with another lovely ballad, "Wings Cut/Fingers Cut" but in the middle are some rollicking tracks. "Bulls Lie Down" and "Love When It's Easy" both straight up rock, but Marchant never abandons his gift for melody on these songs. "Thinking About You" is a mid-tempo guitar driven song with a dark edge to it while "I Wish It Could Have Been More" is a wonderful instrumental piece, again highlighting Marchant's guitar work. I'm thrilled to have Jesse Marchant back with new music, and Brightest Of Feathers serves as a fantastic preview of that forthcoming full length.

Favorite tracks: "Brightest Of Feathers", "I Wish It Could Have Been More", "Bulls Lie Down"

Brightest Of Feathers was released September 8th, 2017 as a digital download only on the No Other Records label.

Official Website of Jesse Marchant

Follow Jesse Marchant on Twitter

Purchase Brightest Of Feathers from Jesse Marchant's website (lossless files)

Purchase Brightest Of Feathers from Amazon.com 

EP Spotlight: Kevin Garrett - False Hope

I was introduced to Kevin Garrett's music two years ago to the date I am writing this piece. He opened up for the Canadian band Hey Rosetta! at The Ark in Ann Arbor and as you can see from my review of that show, I came away impressed. I always make a point to get to shows in plenty of time to catch the opening act and I've been rewarded with introductions to now favorite artists like James Vincent McMorrow, Grandaddy and the aforementioned Mr. Garrett to name just a few. 

His EP Mellow Drama followed shortly after, and hearing the fleshed out studio versions of the songs he played solo on keyboard that night cemented my interest in anything he releases. Mellow Drama remains a perfect EP, five tracks of melancholic, soulful music. Since then, Garrett has released a couple of fantastic singles, co-wrote and produced "Pray You Catch Me", the opening track on Beyonce's Lemonade, and now has unveiled his second EP, the equally flawless False Hope, released to coincide with a tour of the same name I was lucky enough to catch in Pontiac and will review soon as well.     

False Hope contains five more tracks of Garrett's brand of R&B music. There is a stronger element of electronic beats and effects in these songs compared to his first EP starting with the opener "A Heart Like Yours". A yearning ballad complete with stuttering beats, piano, foreboding synth swells and the customary impeccable vocal performance from Garrett, it's a stunner. "Stranglehold" was the first single released from the EP, a mid-tempo song about one of Garrett's favorite subjects, a relationship in trouble. 

Understand one thing about Kevin Garrett, he has so far proven himself incapable of writing a bad song. "Pulling Me Under" is one of those tracks that should be all over radio, if commercial radio still mattered or had a pulse. An uptempo soul song, undeniably catchy, it has all the elements a "hit" is supposed to have. As great as it is, I think I like "Little Bit Of You" even better. This one is a laid back groove with a funky little guitar line that sinks into you and Garrett's smooth vocal delivery. Things come to a close with the second ballad on the EP, "The Way I Keep Myself Together". 

Kevin Garrett proves on False Hope that he is equally at home with both uptempo material and the somber ballads he is best known for. He's one of those special artists I'll happily go out of my way to tell everyone I can to check out. If you're not familiar with his music yet, you need to rectify that. There is no way someone with this level of songwriting ability and vocal talent will be "underground" for long. Hopefully his first full length album follows in the near future.    

Favorite tracks: "A Heart Like Yours", "Little Bit Of You", "Pulling Me Under"

False Hope was self-released February 3rd, 2017.

Official Website of Kevin Garrett

Follow Kevin Garrett on Twitter

Kevin Garrett on Facebook

Purchase False Hope on Amazon.com (Digital Download only)