Jeremy Pinnell – Goodbye L.A.
Out of the gate, I like Jeremy Pinnell’s rowdy gritty rootsy vocal & musicianship throughout this effort. He’s in a Jason & the Scorchers, & Georgia Satellites structure. However, let me get the criticism out of the way: the songs sound like they all have life, Pinnell has a vibrant striking vocal — but on cut 1 “Big Ol’Good” my expensive audiophile system picks up reproduction that doesn’t sound to me that it’s well produced. It’s grating — maybe it’s meant to be that way.
The songs are too good to trifle with. I say it loosely because “Wanna Do Something,” – that one is beautiful. On that, it sounds like someone tweaked the knobs in a warmer direction. Drums are crisp, Jeremy (vocals/guitar) has tonal sincerity, the guitar work is solid.
Track 3’s slow but it’s back to tinny grating sound again. What’s up with this? It’s like the personality of the song is stifled. The song is good, the musicianship is good – but the sound? There’s no depth. It sounds cheap. But, I hear fine playing.
The PR “boasts” it isn’t so much polished as it is intentionally steered to fit Pinnell’s goal of making a fun record.
Producer Jonathan Tyler (vocals/guitar) at Clyde’s VIP Room has skills but needs to tighten the screws on the production, to my ear. Some tunes suffer, but most are good.
Goodbye L.A. (Drops Oct 1– SofaBurn) is 10-tracks. Jeremy & his band have the goods respective of another era. “Rosalie,” is decorated with a bubbling baritone sax (Willie D) & bundled-up guitars. This is recorded well. As is “Cryin’” & “Goodbye L.A.” – enduring songs played & sung excellently. If you have good songs, a great band, don’t forgo the polish. A torn tuxedo with stains, dirt, rips & tears, is not a tuxedo…it’s a rag. These songs are good, the musicians are proficient. Start buffing.
“Night Time Eagle,” is Robert Gordon rockabilly with an edge but has that tinny-distorted sound on Jeremy’s vocal. With a different, warmer tone his voice would get that 50s full-throated swag. The melodic “Never Thought of No One,” again has vocals that are artificial. This happens to be a good song, mindful of the great Eddie (Rice) & the Tide (“This Could Be The One”), & Southside Johnny. The song is good. Good. Jeremy is good.
“Doing My Best,” has the ambiance back. The guitars pluck tightly in a vintage 50s manner, steady drums thump, bass thunders, the piano has a fleecy stride. This wins. The final song, a novelty is best. “Fightin’ Man,” was fun, & it was polished. Players: Junior Tutwiler (guitar), Charles Alley (drums), Adam Nurre (bass/vocals), Daniel Creamer (mellotron/piano), & Cody Braun (fiddle). Color image: Jeremy Kramer Photography.
The 34-minute CD: available @ https://www.sofaburn.com/product-page/jeremy-pinnell-goodbye-l-a-vinyl-cd