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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

 

©2003-2005 Boston Beats

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