Jamie Kindleyside – Would You Live With Me On Mars?
One thing is sure: Massachusetts-born Jamie (acoustic guitar/vocal) has a distinctive, quirky voice that works well in the musical realm he resides in. John Prine & Steve Goodman characteristics. Nice atmospheric Americana, not too rural, not too folky or country, but just right. The title track “Would You Live With Me On Mars?” has lots of imagination & a good arrangement.
The 14 songs produced by Suzi Ragsdale (bgv/accordion/vocal/piano) at her home studio ask — Would You Live With Me On Mars? (Dropped Nov 6/Independent/40:36). I find the title an interesting question, but the CD art’s a bit juvenile. Silhouette of the artist on the Mars landscape with a flying saucer overhead & the Earth actually too close to Mars. I worry about good music exceptionally played & sung, that gets ignored because the artwork is Katzenjammer Kids silly. Happened to Procol Harum on “Home,” an extremely dark LP with an old-fashioned comic book cover. Bad marketing. Then Crosby, Stills & Nash “Live It Up,” hot dogs skewered in space with a similar astral background, but probably the moonscape. What were they thinking?
Jamie’s an expressive artist. His unique tone & material supports a degree of seriousness with fun, & are never contrived. “Train Rollin’ Down the Track” has Woody Guthrie flavors, but the bright violin helps it along into a more vivacious direction. I like it. There’s a homegrown element. Genuine. The words aren’t the common lyrical clichés of others. He talks about blankets, mandolins, wood & a scrap bin. Lots of sophisticated music is executed in a rural but wise way. “Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me” is like an early Neil Diamond song, but with Jamie’s voice, it sounds traditional.
The songs never sound too contemporary. “Ol’ Scrap Bin” is almost on the level of Dylan’s Basement Tapes. Traditionally simple but shoveled into a heap with Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ songs that indeed came from an old scrap bin. Good listening. “Not No More” & “If I Didn’t Have You” are both sparkling duets with Ms. Ragsdale that are John Prine-quality, with artists like Iris Dement (“In Spite of Ourselves”) & Bonnie Raitt (“Angel From Montgomery”). It has a nostalgic feel, with a warm back-porch Appalachian gravitas voice.
Good LP. I’d rather live with you in Massachusetts than Mars, though.
Highlights – “Would You Live With Me On Mars?” “Train Rollin’ Down the Track,” “Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me,” “Ol’ Scrap Bin,” “Not No More,” “Firefly,” “Don’t Tell Me Now,” “If I Didn’t Have You” & “On Mars.”
Musicians – Nick Buda (drums), Alison Prestwood (bass), Pat Buchanan, Gideon Klein (guitars), Dan Dugmore (guitar/pedal steel), Wailin Wood (harmonica), Tim Lauer (Fender Rhodes/Wurlitzer/mellotron/Hammond B3/piano/pump organ/synth bass & pads), Tammy Rogers King (violin/mandolin), Jared Tyler (banjolin/bgv/parlor guitar), Ray Stevens (piano), Jonell Mosser & Amy Perkins (bgv).
A 4-page credits insert is included. Color image courtesy of Stacy Alger. @ Apple & https://www.jamiekindleyside.com/