Jackopierce – Everywhere All The Time
2012, JackopierceWhen I first heard Jackopierce it was 1995. The radio was full of the dying vestiges ofGrunge and the early roots of what would become known as alternate rock. And out of nowhere are these two guys withtwo acoustic guitars, wonderful voices and a sense of vocal harmony that wasflawless. The songwriting had its upsand downs, as with any artist, but Jack O’Neill and Cary Pierce always seemedto pull each song off with an unpretentious panache. The party ended a few years later, butJackopierce simply would not stay in mothballs. A series of annual shows turned into an album and then additional tours. Now in 2012, Jackopierce steps into thelimelight again with their latest album,Everywhere All The Time.
Jackopierce kicks things off with "Into Me", asong written by a guy who can't believe his luck in catching the attention ofthe most beautiful girl in town. Remarkably radio ready for the adultcontemporary set, Jackopierce take it to the next level here. “Finally Free” isa smooth, compact, adult-oriented rock and roll love song. There's a solidgroove here that makes your feet want to move. “Around Me Now” is highlypublished AOR balladry that is perhaps a bit too smooth for its own good. “We Can Work It Out” digs into relationshiprock, bordering on cliché with solid if occasionally awkward lyrics full ofpositive thoughts.
Jackopierce gets back to their roots on “Listen To Me”, a wonderful story songthat relies on melody and vocal harmonies to soar. “Alright By Me” moves backinto the arena rock tendencies that are the apparent oeuvre of Everywhere All The Time. The chorus ismemorable, and the guitar work has a comfortable feel that fits perfectly here,although the metaphors are perhaps a bit out o left field.
The momentum falters a bit for “Change Your Mind” and “Killin Me”. The formerbuilt on solid energy but a bit too pro-forma in construction; the latter justtoo languorous by half. Once againJackopierce carries these tunes on force of personality, but as a long timelistener these just fall a bit flat. Fighting for a relationship is the theme of “Let Go Of Me”. The vocal line is perfectly crafted, an idealmatch to the melody. Jackopierce keepsthings simple here, and is rewarded with a moment of musical beauty. “Lonely” keeps the same vibe in a song ofquesting for love. This one feels highlypersonal, even as Jackopierce paints the concepts of the song in metaphor,simile and harmony. Everywhere All The Time closes out with a reggae version of “ThreeOf Us In A Boat”. While the song itselfhas life, and indeed is something of a fan favorite, the reggae-stylearrangement just falls flat.Jackopierce are still making greatly music nearly a quarterof a century after they started out. Thesongs are generally well-written, and the voices have never been as sweet. The occasional rough spot here is more thanmade up for by the musical immersion that surrounds it. Jackopierce continuesto make great music. Everywhere All The Time does provide abit more musical sound that the songs from back in the day. This occasionally leads to rough spots, butJackopierce almost always wins out in the end.
Rating: 3.5 Stars(Out of 5)Learn more at www.jackopierce.com.
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