Jeffrey Simmons - fin.begin

Jeffrey Simmons

fin.begin
self-released; 2014

3.7 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

Think of Simon and Garfunkel meets The Smiths. Jeffrey Simmons is a quintessential example of new-age pop music, with a bit of folk and soul thrown into the mix. Simmons has been producing music since 1999 and since has released six albums. This one is a complete solo-production minus a few guest appearances, and the album fin.begin showcases the musician’s songwriting ability and instrumental talents.

The opening song on the album is called “Hard to Tell” and has a pleasant singsong rock vibe to it. I could easily see this song being performed around a campfire or a scene in a movie about hippies from the ‘70s. Simmons really strikes a chord with that era, while listening to the entire album, I feel transcended to the time of “peace, flowers and love.”


"The Goods" is an extremely catchy song which if it doesn't get you hooked in from the verse the chorus will surely do you in. He sings" We got the goods to go a long, long way E A B A E We got the goods to go a long, long way". Simmons wallows in a bit of melancholy on "Some Burden"  while "Happiness" contains a dose of americana.

“Dream Another Dream” is so dramatic in demeanor; it could easily be a song in a play or a musical. It makes me want to gently dance upon my bed sheets with joy and happiness because I know I’ll never have a bad dream ever again, “when your bad dreams make you scream out, please have no doubt, that if you wake up sad and lonely, console me you know I will.”

fin.begin is filled with airy magical themes that anyone young and old can enjoy. The style of Jeffrey Simmons could be considered old school, but it has a classic vibration that is oh-so genuine and filled with truth and authenticity and offers many entertaining anecdotes. Listening to this album is almost like watching a movie, it’s filled with so many different story lines and the songwriting really shines through with colorful metaphors and cleverness.

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