LEAVING CALIFORNIA

This is the first JACK O' THE CLOCK album that I am just not connecting with. In my opinion this band was darn near flawless with the three album run before this beginning with "Night Loops" from 2014 then the back to back "Repetitions Of The Old City" parts I & II in 2016 and 2018. So I may unfairly be comparing this album to those but this one just seems different. Less folky to the point that it wasn't until I got to that fifth track, the self-titled one that I felt I was listening to the band I know and love. The vocals are more straight forward, less of that hick sound to them. And this is the most stripped down version we have seen with only three guests, while "Night Loops" for example has ten guests helping out.

I loved the words I saw somewhere comparing their music to old time fiddle music but done to compositions worthy of Stockhausen. Please understand that I think Damon Waitkus is brilliant at composing and also his instrumental work and he's a multi-instrumentalist. The man blows me away but much less so here. I will be very interested to hear the new album that just came out in 2023 and I noticed ten guests helping out on it too. It will be interesting if he pulls the reigns back in to more of a folky dominated sound. The title "Leaving California" always reminds me of my Australian uncle leaving California towing a trailer when he flicks out a butt that lands in the trailer and catches fire as he drives on the highway north. He would laugh when he told that one.

The first two tracks are the two shortest and my least favourites and no not a good way to start the record. "The Butcher" is one I'm not completely sold on but man Damon can tell stories, he has a way with words. The title track is good with the folky vocals, violin and sound. Then two long tracks to end it with "Fascination" at over 8 minutes and the closer "Narrow Gate" at almost 12 minutes. I'm much more impressed with "Fascination". Yeah me and this record just didn't get along. Still this is JACK O' THE CLOCK and they are better than most.