The Blind Jacks - Reinvent Yourself

The Blind Jacks 

Reinvent Yourself
self-released; 2015

3.6 out of 5

By Andrew Westberry

The three members of Canadian band The Blind Jacks combined forces to create Reinvent Yourself. the band’s debut release that combines elements of indie pop, garage rock, and classic rock & roll in thirteen distinctive songs.

A gritty, yet danceable, guitar riff opens up the album in “Broken Radar” before developing into a more pop-rock type verse. Layered vocals capture the listener’s attention, but the flawless instrumentation provides a solid background for the lyrics. In “Reaction”, the vitality present in the music continues to thrive as the band explores the darker side of rock & roll. The brightness returns in full in “Breakdown”, but not without timely minor chording to highlight the contrast.

The energy of the album doesn’t significantly slow down for a while, and the driving tempos propel the listener right through “Our Lives” and “You’ll Fit Right In” without surprise. A slightly more relaxed tempo takes the stage in “The Scene”, and the moderate dynamic shift is echoed in “Connected”, a slow ballad complete with rock organ, falsetto, and poetic lyrics.

The album takes an unexpected turn when a banjo opens “It’s All or Nothing”, an unabashedly country-influenced tune that truly breaks away from the band’s typical sound. This track is effective, as it shows the band’s diversity and ability to model different styles with ease. The Blind Jacks return to their home turf in “Let Go”, arguably the best song on the album with its catchy grunge-y guitars, harmonic melodies, and a solid, uptempo beat.

The last third of the album contains few deviations from the musical atmosphere formed by the preceding portion of the record. “Do It Again” features retro-style rock & roll flavor, and the title track and “Louise” both challenge the limits of both dynamics and convention. Ending with the highly polished “When I’m Gone”, Reinvent Yourself thrives in its mission to introduce the world to The Blind Jacks and give the band a platform from which to continue propelling their career.

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