Jason Ward - Almighty Row [Album]
 

Not many mainstream artists can claim to have written over three hundred and fifty songs this decade. This year alone the West Virginia musician Jason Ward has released two albums, two EPs and seven singles, yet he is far removed from the mainstream music industry and remains unsigned. He is Kurt Cobain if Nirvana had never happened. The world is full of people making music for themselves. A voice, a guitar, some words and a room is all you need these days to make a song. But very few are as talented as Jason Ward.

'Almighty Row' is just a small example of Jason Ward’s work, but as a complete album the songs share a similar mournful and ethereal sound. Ward’s vocals have a Thom Yorke quality but there is often more to his voice. The music treads a fine line between heartbreaking melancholy and soulless depression, the words complimented by a minimalist framework of acoustic guitars, strings and piano. 'Almighty Row' is proof that less is more when you make the right choices.

The definitive highlight of 'Almighty Row' is the haunting sugarcoat, a perfect three minutes of captivating performance. Ward’s vocals are interchanged with a delicate and simple piano melody and the whole song is washed with a subtle string arrangement. It is probably the most "complete" song on the album. 'Sinkhole' is a close second with an achingly beautiful chorus: "Enjoy your sinkhole, make it your home. You raise your kids there and die alone…" The trails and tribulations of family life summed up.

Opener 'I’m Not In Trouble' sets the uneasy scene from the outset, a tale of self-doubt and denial centered around the line: ‘I know it’s not me and I’m not in trouble, still think I may have done something wrong…’ It could be a small child facing a parent or a serial killer talking to the devil. Perfect abstract song writing in my view. 'Bright' continues the sinister feel, flat verses leading up to a melodic chorus: “…And I’ll be happy though it’s wrong. And I’ll be happy knowing you are where you belong”. The backing vocals by Ward himself are excellent.

'Almighty Row' often breaks the formula. 'Hinting At The Door' is a slower piano-led piece using few words to first create the pictures: "She came down from Pennsylvania where the horses run. I came from the tributaries where the sun is spun", then the personal touch: ‘She looked out the window once, at the empty field. When I asked her what she saw, she kept her thoughts concealed’. 'Sendoff' could be a Rufus Wainwright closer. The combination of piano and Ward’s change of vocal style conjures images of a faded actor in a downbeat musical. 'Hope You Don’t Mind' is similar with a startling vocal mix above a plodding piano. The choral strings provide backing vocals and the brief outro of deep electronica is over too quickly.

At just over half an hour, 'Almighty Row' never feels too long. The pace of each song is measured and consistent but never laboured - a wonderful feat of control and production. Song after song you keep expecting Ward to suddenly start yelling or throw in a massive blast of industrial noise to release the tension and angst. It never happens. But on repeat listens you keep expecting it as the songs reveal more and more hidden depth and meaning.

Given that Jason Ward has made so much music in the last ten years and his creative output has produced something as good as 'Almighty Row', it remains a mystery why he doesn’t have a record deal. Maybe he doesn’t want one. Maybe he is living the life that Kurt Cobain never had - making music out of the public spotlight and staying well in control.

Re: Jason Ward - Almighty Row [Album]
 

In-depth review here man i like it. You seem to delve into every nook and fanny of the album. We should definitely get an interview with Jason, what do you think? He sounds really interesting.

Re: Jason Ward - Almighty Row [Album]
 

Don't agree with this. Far from 77% IMO.

Re: Jason Ward - Almighty Row [Album]
 

What does IMO mean Chris?
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

In My Opinion.

On Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 12:05 AM, jack s <> wrote:

Re: Jason Ward - Almighty Row [Album]
 

'Far from' in which direction? This is one of those albums that gets under your skin. Jason is a great writer and musically it's gimmick free - pure and honest.

Re: Jason Ward - Almighty Row [Album]
 

For me about a 40%. The songs ain't that great, his voice ain't that great and the recordings sound like they were done at home on a cheap guitar. You can tell there is potential in the core of it but it is far from a finished release as far as I'm concerned.

Re: Jason Ward - Almighty Row [Album]
 

Well, at least I'm getting strong opinions at both ends of the spectrum. This is a lo-fi production, and that was never made out to be any secret. Some people are going to like an album, and some people aren't going to like it so much. The only comment I will take exception to is the one regarding the use of a cheap guitar while at home.

Production techniques and equipment are integral aspects to a piece of music as a whole, but they are never meant to overshadow substance, atmosphere, and feeling. Some of the most critically-acclaimed rock bands, not just songwriters (for the unkeen on that category), made their best albums in garages with low-end equipment.

Everyone is entitled to "their own opinion", because everyone has different tastes, but to trash a specific genre because the artists are just individual "guys with a guitar" only displays severe strokes of close-mindedness, not the musically elitist views that one might have hoped.

Re: Jason Ward - Almighty Row [Album]
 

I kind of agree with you mate. Let's use Seastick Steve as an example, he uses beat up, 3 stringed guitars and as one man and a shit guitar he is mind blowing. He is also one of the first guys in many years that has also approached all of that in a new way and offers something fresh. I have by no means trashed a genre, I have just said that unless it's unique, original and brilliant it bores me.

I am just personally tired of hearing singer songwriters playing around with the same chords, the same rhythms etc. I also agree that some great albums were done in garages and the poor production in these instances really helps the cause. Imagine if you heard hundreds of new artists playing the same chords in the same style. It would get old quickly.

There are too many wanabees out there these days and I think if they want to be taken seriously they need to up their game. They need to work their asses off and buy a better guitar, buy better gear and learn how to better their songwriting and production. Work harder on promotion of theirselves and forge a fanbase.

I made sure however that this release went to someone that would likely appreciate it because I do believe that everyone needs a fair go with ears that are likely to enjoy it. The reviewer here really enjoyed it as do some of the other boys around the site. As someone that works on all aspects of artist development daily I see the potential in your work but I also see how far away you are from developing your own unique sound. If you want a comparison, let's use drawing as an example. You can draw but you don't have your own unique identity like say Jamie Hewlett (Tank Girl, Gorillaz). What you need to be working on now is taking constructive criticism on board and working on it. If I know how to play a song without having to pick up a guitar it isn't challenging enough.

Don't let me dishearten you man, just offering some advice.