Band of Jays - Brand New Heirlooms

​Band of Jays

Brand New Heirlooms
Green Monkey Records; 2024

TOP ALBUM

​​By ​Dino DiMuro

Band of Jays is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Julian Volpe of Charleston, South Carolina. He’s had a 30-year career as a musical sideman on dozens of studio and live projects nationwide, and has just released his third album titled Brand New Heirlooms. He calls it “a fusion of power, pop, and rock, with a huge love for harmonies.”

Volpe lists as influences Jason Falkner, the Posies, R.E.M., and “a subtle whisper of Motown” reflecting his own diverse musical output. Among Volpe’s many accomplishments was being awarded 2023’s Best Rock Artist by the Indie Music Channel. Each track on this album strives to fuse different genres and features soaring melodies, intricate guitars, and soulful harmonies. All recording took place at Volpe’s Jumping J home studio using Logic Pro. Mastering was by Steve Turnidge at UltraViolet Studios, Seattle. Both digital download and vinyl are available.

“I’m Fine” starts in a familiar way (for some of us, at least!) with a needle being placed onto a vinyl record. The music has so much going on I barely know where to start! There’s jangly guitars, pop-style organ, bumblebee bass, and tight drums but most of all there’s absolutely sweet, layered harmonies. If you’re at all familiar with radio-friendly pop from the ‘60s and early ‘70s, this song truly is a “brand new heirloom” evoking that era.

“You Knew It” features clean, driving guitars like Elliott Smith used to do. The song itself has the sheen of a really good Todd Rundgren track. The chorus vocals feature a neat trick of overlapping the ends of a verse over the start of the next one. As we proceed to “Nothing Will Be The Same,” it’s getting harder not to think of The Beatles, and this track especially sounds like Paul on bass and Ringo on drums from the Revolver era, though the guitars and vocal harmonies are maybe closer to Badfinger. Interestingly “Sun Shine” takes us forward into solo Paul McCartney territory, based on driving piano chords locked in with the bass and drum kit. There’s a cool electric piano solo, making this song mostly about the keys. Not to beat a dead horse, but “You Know” can’t help but evoke the majesty of the Fab’s “Golden Slumbers.” And who shows up for a weeping slide guitar solo? Someone very much like George Harrison! “Solo So Low” has a Klaatu grace and elegance (and you know who Klaatu were mistaken for, right?). In fact, I keep checking to see if I have the right submission sheet because I can’t hear any of the bands they listed as influences in their music. (R.E.M.?) “Again Again” has a cool trick where the rhythm guitars closely follow the vocal phrasing, and is not just a background for them.

“We’ll Be Home” combines rapid Led Zeppelin power chords with lightweight, Simon and Garfunkel-like vocals. “I Will Remember” repeats the band’s cool trick of finishing one vocal line just as the second begins, back and forth. There’s lots of cool stuff in this track including “radio-distorted” vocals, crunchy electric keys, and a showcase guitar solo.

​I’ve rarely heard music so sweet and hard-rocking at the same time. Well, this album is a marvel. If you like retro power pop you need to check it out, and I mean now!

bandofjays.com

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