Marcellus Hall – I Will Never Let You Down
I Will Never Let You Down, the third LP from former Railroad Jerk frontman Marcellus Hall, took half a decade to make. But the results, a dozen brilliantly crafted indie rock tracks recalling the heyday of ‘90s college radio, prove the protracted process was well worth it.
Though Railroad Jerk was known more for their blues and punk influences and his other band, White Hassle mined Americana for influences, Hall’s solo efforts draw from a slew of different genres, including pop, folk, rock, and well, blues. Hall’s ability to combine sophistication with wry lyrics and quirky pop brings to mind everyone from Cake and Soul Coughing to The Flaming Lips.
Hall’s charm can be heard in the Van Morrison adjacent opening track “Behind The Stadium,” with angular guitars and his beautiful vocals, delivered in an almost staggered, behind the music style. The album doesn’t let up for the next 40 minutes or so. The title track, with its marching drum and bass intro is as addictive as it is quirky, while “Kitchen Sink Blues” (complete with backing “oh la la’s), the very modern seduction track “Our Devices” (punctuated with horns) and the catchy “One Night” are among some of the best songs Hall has ever committed to tape. The album closes on a fantastic, funk-infused cover of the Carole King staple “You’ve Got A Friend,” just adding to the overall charm of this record.
“We wanted to get it right,” Hall said recently about the five years it took to complete the album. “The pandemic intervened, but we got it right. These are songs about love, loss, hope, and redemption.” His confidence in the record is well placed. Here’s hoping the follow up comes much sooner.
You can find more information on his website here: https://www.marcellushall.com and find his music on BandCamp here: https://marcellushall.bandcamp.com/album/i-will-never-let-you-down
