Gary Jules
Gary Jules Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets
(Universal)
Review by Matt Robinson
Picking
up where musical martyr Eliot Smith dropped off, singer/songwriter
Gary Jules delivers heart-felt intelligence with a darkly hesitating vocal
shimmer. Blending elements of Bob Dylan and Greg Brown (“Umbilical Town”),
Cat Stevens (“Lucky”), Ellis Paul (“Patchwork G”), REM and Five for
Fighting
(“Mad World”), Bruce Cockburn (“No Poetry”), and Don McLean (the cover
art),
Jules brings a number of topics and styles into his own space. Gently
bringing a country tinge to “Downtown Los Angeles,” Jules washes “Boat
Song” with a bit of watery slide and offers some lilting Celtic-y strings
to “Pills.” From the swaying drinking buddy anthem “Bar Stool” to the pianistic insight of “Mad World,” Jules offers an honest and pleasing
voice of reason and calm in a musical world of pretense and production.
- Matthew S. Robinson
c. 2004, M. S. Robinson, ARR
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