Those who watch HBO’s True Blood will know Jace from his “Bad Things” theme to the popular vampire series.
But that was then and this is now. Red Revelations, his third album, and his first that will no doubt get a fighting chance to be heard, is, indeed, a revelation: A bluesy backwoods smoker of Americana filled with rock’n roll, gritty white soul, an acoustic countrified air, his subtle but effective guitar, and the kind of compositional talent you’d associate with someone far beyond his years.
If he was plying his craft in the 1950s, he’d have that slap-back bass and be right in league with Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison, plus there’d be more of a hiccup in his vocal. As he stands today, he’s more like Chris Isaak minus the heartthrob trappings; Tony Joe White minus the Cajun gumbo. He’s learned his country lessons well enough to emulate the dead legends, but he’s unique enough to key in on his own quirky rockabilly strained through a ‘70s singer/songwriter colander.
Red Revelation has no filler. It’s an honest emotional 12 tracks in 46:56 that should introduce a major new triple threat (composer/guitarist/singer) American voice. Hardly a hastily put together affair to capitalize on the popularity of a television program, every note rings true.
“Burn For You” smolders with unadorned lust. “Damned If I Do” bristles with prideful independence. “Little Black Dress” is playful and teasing. And, yeah, “Bad Things” is tacked on at the end as a bonus track for the bloodsucking crowd. But make no mistake about it, Jace Everett will be around long after people forget about True Blood.
In A Word: Heartfelt
