HOME SONGS

Bands like JUMP are perhaps as relevant today as they ever were, occupying a niche at the intersection of British folk and rock, with precious little in common with older or newer neo prog. They tend to compact vocal oriented message or story songs with a mix of hard rock and folk instrumentation. Rarely are their progressive tendencies allowed to dominate the meticulous arrangements. As a result, they can be given short shrift by prog "purists" demanding profligate 12 minute monstrosities, the likes of which might explain the copiousness of many neo discographies. Supply meets demand. By contrast, JUMP can only be judged on the quality of their output, not by whether or not they should have extended this or that guitar solo or made song X more complex.

Unfortunately, in the case of "Home Songs", that assessment is decidedly mixed. On the one hand are pleasant ditties like the opening cut or "The Witness", or tired and bland rockers like "The Better Part of Valour", "Never too Far", and "Fresh Young Thing". Tellingly, the only outstanding track, "My Little Eye", reminds me of Irish folk rock icon CHRISTY MOORE more than Moore himself. That is not a good sign for a band that struggles for identity beyond JOHN DEXTER JONES' glorious tones.

If you are looking for a first JUMP album, I would not recommend bringing these songs home, but if you are already a fan, you are unlikely to be terribly disappointed. 2.5 stars rounded down.