Jesse Aycock "Inside Out of Blue" (Organum, 2010)
Tulsa workaholic takes time out for himself

It reads like a scene from ‘Almost Famous' young Jesse Aycock, not even out of third grade, sneaks into his sister’s bedroom to rummage through her cassettes, finds himself suddenly in thrall to the power of rock and roll, embarks on a life-long love affair with music.

Aycock’s a busy guy too, not just some starry eyed kid dreaming stage lights, and he lends his talents to a roster of Tulsa-centric groups – the Doldrums, Little Chairs, Dustin and Jesse’s Higher Education Band and still more – playing onstage six nights a week, barely finding the time to devote to his own songs. Somehow he’s managed, and now turns out his second disc, a six-song mini album of smart adult contemporary folk rock, unobtrusive and catchy tracks given to a Jayhawks sense of yearning and hinting at something just a little more Cosmically minded. It’s very listenable, not too demanding, tastefully done but not restrained or neutered.

Aycock’s voice pulls you in; it’s not a clear, earnest singer-songwriter voice but a tremulous keening thing, some of Bob’s nasal delivery and some of Neil’s astral falsetto adding to a kind of J. Mascis whine. It works, and it lends itself to some finely written songs. “Wine” stands out as being particularly sublime, a slice of widescreen melancholia unfolding over chord changes straight out of the Son Volt songbook. “Sometimes”, too, hits all the right notes as its carefully structured balladry breaks apart into two minutes of messy Crazy Horse soloing.

Two releases in, Aycock sounds as sure of himself as his constant schedule of stage shows would suggest. It’s a shame he’s seemingly stretched too thin to bless us with a full length release, but his three dozen or so bands are lucky to have him onboard.

Date review added:  Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Reviewer:  Alex Cleary
Reviewers Rating: 
Related web link:  Artist's Official Site
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