Jon Allen - Dead Mans Suit [Album]

Monologue Records

September 8, 2009, 03:29 PM

Views: 312   Comments: 0

Buy Jon Allen - Dead Mans Suit [Album] From Amazon.com

Jon Allen spent his formative years growing up in South Devon. "Dead Mans Suit" is his debut full length release. The album kicks off with the title track 'Dead Mans Suit' and the first impressions are good, it's a catchy tune, and there's a nice Hammond organ solo near the end. Jon's vocals are reminiscent me of someone, but I can't quite put my finger on who. Jon Allen plays all the instruments himself on the title track apart from the Drums and Hammond Organ which are played by Tim Bye and Rich Milner.

Simon Johnson is added to the two aforementioned musos on the second track, 'In Your Light' providing Electric Guitar. A brief acoustic intro is heard before the piano, bass and vocals pile in. The vocals here remind me of Rod Stewart. In fact I can quite easily imagine this being a Rod Stewart song with him singing along. 'In Your Light' is a ballad and Johnson's bluesy guitar solo is in keeping with the mood of the song. 'Going Home', is the first totally solo performance on the album. 'Going Home' is a folk song based on the vocals and acoustic guitar, and it reminds me of the legend that is Bob Dylan to an extent, but Jon Allen, believe it or not, has a sweeter singing voice!

Bass guitar is added for the fourth track 'Friends' which is nicely played by Tristan Longworth. Now initially I imagined 'Friends' was going to closely resemble a Bruce Sprinsteen song, but as it progresses this feeling evaporates. 'Friends' is one of the more up-tempo songs on "Dead Mans Suit" and is possibly also one of the more commercial songs with a nice guitar solo halfway through and a chorus that will keep you humming it for quite a while after the track has finished. 'Sleeping Solo' drops down to nothing but an acoustic guitar and cello and there is a haunting melody running through the track making the whole thing very atmospheric. Jon Allen bounces back to a trio for 'Happy Now' and there is a Neil Young feel to the whole thing especially the guitar solo. There are also some Pink Floyd esque backing vocals in parts.

The intro to 'Take Me To Heart' is very nice and the Rod Stewart vocal sound is back. 'Take Me To Heart' reminds me of
Rod Stewart's 'Stay With Me' and again the Hammond organ and piano complement the vocals perfectly. 'Lay Your Burden Down' has just acoustic and electric guitars with the electric leads having a very Dave Gilmour quality to them making the song sprightly, and melodic.
'Young Man Blues' bears no resemblance to the song of the same name by The Who. It is however one of the rockier songs on "Dead Mans Suit". Powerful keyboards throughout and the vocals in the chorus are particularly strong. Again, 'Young Man Blues' sounds very much like something I have heard before bu I can't quite put my finger on who, or what.

Make no mistake this is a very good debut album indeed. The songs flow well and the musicianship is top notch. I honestly can only really find one thing to criticize, on Jon's Website we are told that Mark Knopfler played guitar on one of Jon's songs called 'Sarah'! Alas it's not on the album and I can't seem to find it anywhere! I do hope it makes it on to his follow up.

Jon Allen is touring in September and hopefully I might get along to Pocklington Arts Centre to see him.

The tour dates are:-

15 Sep The Rescue Rooms Nottingham
18 Sep West End Centre Aldershot
19 Sep Arlington Arts Centre Berkshire
20 Sep The Phoenix Exeter
22 Sep Chapel Arts Centre Bath
23 Sep Cox’s Yard Warwickshire
25 Sep The Cluny 2 Newcastle Upon Tyne
26 Sep Lemon Tree Aberdeen, Scotland
1 Oct Auntie Annies Porterhouse Belfast
2 Oct The Academy Dublin
4 Oct The 12 Bar Swindon
14 Oct Union Chappel London
15 Oct The Cellars, Eastney Southsea, Hampshire
18 Oct Mr Kyps Poole
20 Oct Pocklington Arts Centre York
21 Oct King Tuts Wah Wah Hut Glasgow
26 Oct The Glee Club Birmingham
28 Oct The Perfect 5th Taunton
29 Oct The Flowerpot Derbyshire
28 Nov Winchester Discovery Centre Winchester, Hampshire

#1 | Subscribe | Send to Friend | Print | Discipline | Report