Jordan Messerole - The Blue Collar Tragedies

​Jordan Messerole

The Blue Collar Tragedies
self-released; 2025

​​​By ​Dino DiMuro​​​

Jordan Messerole is an award-winning Americana artist from central Minnesota with several albums to his name, many with striking retro-LP artwork that's as good as the songs. Though he's just released a live album, his most recent studio collection is called The Blue Collar Tragedies.  He says his music combines "the raw, pinpoint accurate songwriting (style) of James McMurtry backed by hard driving, Americana rock and roll." 

Messerole takes the lead vocals and plays guitar and harmonica, backed by Kevin Neal (lead guitar/rhythm guitar/organ), Matt Woods (lead guitar), Scot Sutherland (bass) and Russ Tomlinson (drums). Vocal harmonies are by Sara Routh and Amanda Gibbons. Messerole's songs are said to "frequently meander across the lines between love and loss, success and failure, or life and death, with the songs' motifs varying as greatly as the wild flowers in the native tall grass." Fans of John Prine, Jason Isbell and John Hiatt may find much to like here.  

Recording and mixing took place at Redd No. 7 Studio in Des Moines, Iowa by Kevin Neal using vintage consoles and a 2-inch 16-track recorder. Mastering was by Hoobastank's Chris Hesse at The Lighthouse Recording in Los Angeles, California. The album is available on affordably-priced CD and vinyl as well as by download.

"Summer Thunder" introduces us to Messerole's big, authoritative voice matched with jangly country guitars and the sweet harmonies of Amanda Gibbons. He also lets slip the first of many NSFW lyric turns, which is one of the charms of his writing style: just telling it like it is, folks! The band does feel like mainstream pop rock but the vocals and lyrics definitely swing the track in the country direction, with a striking Dylanesque harmonica break. "Livin' Pretty Good" is a Stonesy blues rocker that really puts Messerole's lyric gifts and jaundiced worldview to good use, with lines like: "Got this new gig as a roofer and it's the closest I can get to the Lord / Drink a beer for every hour I work, and that's a dozen or more." And that's just the start, with a great chorus couplet: "I don't make a great living, but I'm living pretty good." With a track like this it's clear why Messerole has two lead players in his band. Watch out for an F bomb and reefer reference!

"Tryin' to Leave Trempealeau" is another cool mix of rock and country, with the hard guitars matching the power of Mountain but the body of the song laying wreaths to The Allman Brothers. Sublime lead guitar insinuations abound! This song also features guest Shane Johnson on bass. "Our House Was On Fire" is a flaming train-tempo rocker with blazing guitars as Messerole narrates a terrifying dream that unfortunately comes true. Here's a weird comparison: Zoot Horn Rollo's lunar notes on "Clear Spot." The next song sounds like an early Neil Young track but I can't figure out which one, but quickly finds its own sweet spot. The chorus harmonies with Sara Routh are particularly moving. "Small Engine Repair" finds Messerole at yet another homegrown job where he pays no taxes and gets paid under the table, with a downtempo, dirge-like beat and mournful harmonica to illustrate. 

"Drinkers Dawn" is another amiable ditty where Messerole "stayed up too late, listening to those old drinking songs." The music feels a bit like "The Ballad of John and Yoko" slowed down, which makes me question whether that song was actually country. Sara Routh again adds sweet harmonies. Yet another great lyric: "The angel on my shoulder lost out to the devil on my back." The fuzzed-out, echo-laden "Six Pounds" feels like "Dark Johnny Cash" and would be perfect for a Tarantino movie.

There's ten songs total, all effortlessly sublime. When I started I was ready to say this was more Americana than rock, but now I'm not so sure; it's as if Messerole's attitude more than the music makes it feel country. But whatever it is, you should really give it a listen!

jordanmesserole.com

music.apple.com/us/album/the-blue-collar-tragedies/1845707244

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