JOY COMES IN THE MORNING (AS THE JEREMY BAND)

Here we have the third release by The Jeremy Band, featuring multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Morris along with drummer Dave Dietrich and bassist Todd Borsch, who apparently passed away just as this album was released. Lyrically this is very much a worship album, but the twelve songs are all wrapped up in wonderful power pop psychedelia, while Jeremy himself says it is an amalgam of The Byrds, The Beatles, Big Star, The Who, and Teenage Fanclub. It certainly does not at all sound as if it was released in 2018 but takes us on a journey back 50 years to a far simpler time. It is packed full of hooks, while any album which includes the use of a Mellotron is always likely to find favour with me.

Jeremy has always had a major work ethic, never content with releasing an album every twelve months, and generally has multiple on the go at the same time, but do not fall into the trap of thinking that just because he releases a lot of material there is no quality control as this album is a delight from beginning to end. There is a freshness and light touch to the production, and it never feels as if this is a studio concoction in that there is a rhythm section and then masses of instruments and vocals coming from one man (who also provides bass and drums just because he can), and it is obvious this band was so Jeremy could get out there and the play, just like he has been doing since his teenage years. For anyone who enjoys his work then this is an absolute delight, consistent and coherent, and if you have yet to come across him then this is a great place to start.