JAKE LA BOTZ: Graveyard Jones

Jake La Botz

Graveyard Jones

© 2006 Charnel Ground Records (634479289064)

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FEATURES THE SONGS "TINY" AND "THE WISHING WELL" FROM RAMBO

notes

"Jake La Botz is a creator of dark poetry and haunting song, the kind of music that gets in your bones and rides you for days, a sound and vision only those who've been to the bottom and clawed their way back up can generate. His midnight gifts evoke Hank Williams and Skip James as much as Tom Waits and Dylan. Not everybody will get this music - because not everybody is ready for the truth."
Jerry Stahl (Author of Permanent Midnight)

"La Botz avoids the mainstream like a Dracula avoids the dawn..." -Macon Telegraph

"Blues man Jake La Botz came up the right-proper, fucking hard way: a teen renegade on the streets of Chicago, dabbling in a mixture of antisocial activities (from car theft to jabbing up his own rudimentary tattoos) and exploring the rich, deep blues tradition as a street singer ... and beside Delta-blues originator “Honeyboy” Edwards. That lovely, lurid background forged a musical power that, as heard on his current CD, Graveyard Jones, demonstrates not only an innate mastery of the blues, but also displays what he calls a “condensed rock & roll mythology.”" -L.A. Weekly

"“Graveyard Jones” is one of the year’s most original releases — midnight blues as philosophical myth..." -Pasadena Weekly

"La Botz is skilled at crafting talking-blues numbers that are pure poetry. His storytelling roots lie deep in the Delta and Piedmont, and his material is at once timeless and totally fresh." -Chicago Sun Times

"The songs pierce and scrape at the listener’s skin like the needle of a tattoo gun, his harsh, grainy rasp—not unlike Tom Waits’—spewing forth blunt, morbid narratives about threadbare lives and the nearness of the grave." -Nashville Scene

"Dont miss alert: Blues veteran Jake La Botz, an L.A. denizen via Chicago and a musical descendant of Son House, Tom Waits, Skip James, and Honeyboy Edwards, returns with 'Graveyard Jones' (Charnel Ground 108). La Botz...is one of today's darkest and most original writers. 'Jones', like several of his previous efforts, is a sonic roller-coaster ride; he spans country blues, Rolling Stones grooves ('Grandma's Photographs'), and off-kilter Waits sounds ('Graveyard Jones'), elsewhere doing his own thing ('Something On My Mind'). La Botz's superb dry vocals and expert fingerpicking anchor the band on idiosynchratic, compelling compositions." -Blues Revue Magazine

"Inhabiting the same dark recesses of the blues as the late Screamin' Jay Hawkins or John Campbell, Jake La Botz's gravelly growl of a voice creates a funereal sound that evokes satanic fears and can make your skin crawl. His new, third CD, "Graveyard Jones," at times is as much a Halloween soundtrack as blues exploration. It's the sort of music one might expect to hear while visiting a voodoo priestess in a back alley of the French Quarter. ...Despite the rough edges to his voice, La Botz is actually a tremendous singer. Expressive, passionate, and with an innate melodicism." - North County Times (San Diego)

"Sometime car-dweller and indie movie actor La Botz dreams up bizarro electric blues, rocking just as hard on sentimental pieces. As the album's title suggests, there's a good deal of morbidity and mortality obsessed over here, but it's one lively-sounding funeral." -Los Angles Daily News

"His raspy voice spins beautiful, gritty narratives. I'm totally hooked." -Harrisburg Patriot News

"...the L.A-based singer/songwriter is actually quite a flying-under-the-radar treasure..." -Nashville All The Rage

"Graveyard Jones is a simultaneously grimy and reflective look at America's underbelly." -Cleveland Scene

" If you like your blues served up raw, without a lot of window dressing, Jake La Botz has the recipe you've been looking for." -Turbula.net

"On the title track of his latest album, the itinerant blues troubadour combines his creaky vocals with a solitary, meandering organ run and echo-laden plucking to evoke the Halloween-ready spookiness of Screaming Jay Hawkins and the hoodoo blues of the late John Campbell." -Long Island Press

"La BOTZ'S music may be on the fringes, but that is only because the mainstream is so out of touch with art born from American roots. His tunes are plain and homespun, and often darkly humorous. Bob Dylan is an obvious influence; so too are Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits and a legion of bluesmen. On record, his vocals are weather-beaten and gravelly, in sharp contrast to his gentle speaking voice." -L.A. Times

"...animated, jagged guitar playing and equally energetic, distinctive vocals and songwriting."- Nashville City Paper

"It's not often Hollywood can be called on to highlight great Blues music but we have to credit Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs), and his film "Animal Factory" (starring Willem Dafoe), for bringing Jake La Botz to our attention - an exceptional singer/songwriter who grew up playing with many of Blues' greatest, including Jimmy Davis and Homesick James, on Maxwell Street. Keeping that company as a teenager, it's a given the music is authentic roots-based, but the chilling drawl on both 2004's "All Soul And No Money" and 2006's "Graveyard Jones" is something you can't craft; no matter the company you've kept. It's this grave vocal that emphasises the pain and sorrow on songs such as 'The Grey' ("All Soul And No Money"); a grim take on death so intense it leaves you bordering on emotional mess. On both collections Jake evokes many of traditional and contemporary Blues' most revered acts, from Skip James to Tom Waits, yet his take (incorporating country/folk/rock/gospel and even punk) is highly original. At times uncomfortable, at times moving, at times empowering, at times upsetting…in fact all the fundamentals Hollywood never seems to deliver anymore and it's fair to say this music is far more gripping and engrossing than any Hollywood Blockbuster! Give the movies a miss this weekend and get lost in Jake's world!" -Blues Matters Magazine (England)

more at jakelabotz.com

reviews

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  • Hooked on La Botz
    author: Brian Wendelboe

    I first saw Jake on the new Rambo movie and loved the Wishing Well tune that he was singing on the boat. I Googled that, found him, and immediately ordered that CD. I love the whole disc and will buy his other current albums and anything that he will ever release. He is a very talented musician, not to mention - a great actor. Thanks Jake!

  • Graveyard Jones
    author: Roman J. Hernandez

    Jake has that love and pain every Blues fan loves to feel when they listen to the Blues. Jake once again lays it down! The hard work and dedication is much appreciated. Thanks Jake, and keep the great albums coming.

  • Wishing well
    author: Robert Abel

    The first time I heard of Jake was after watching the new Rambo movie. All I could think of was that "Wishing Well" song by that guy on the boat. Turns out that guy on the boat was Jake and I could not get the song out of my head. So after firing up the ol' google machine I stumbled upon his official website and ended up purchasing his latest CD. And what a beauty it is. This is one of the very few CDs that you just can listen to over and over again without getting tired of the songs. It almost seems like you find something new and exciting in every single song, every lyric each time you play it. Easily one of my new favorite CDs. Jake you rocked in Rambo! Two thumbs up!

  • Jake's great
    author: eric middelhuis

    For me he's the reincarnation of Frank Sinatra.What an voice!!Like Jake says:"That might be the cause of it all".

  • No doubt to buy it
    author: H Bergkamp

    For me the best cd of 2006!!! Hans 'on the move' Bergkamp dj Alkmaar-Netherlands

  • Just buy it!!
    author: Steve

    Jake Labotz is unfortunately the best kept secret in the contemporary blues/americana/roots music scene today. Killer playing, writing, phrasing that is truly one of a kind. I was fortunate enough to see him perform in Boston recently - - outstanding!! Now if I could only get him to Maine!!

  • no shallow grave here
    author: Jerimiah Whitlock

    Jake dug deep with every track, leaving no stone unturned. With songs like "Heaven is the only hell" push idea's to the very core of a human experiance. So I'm going to get small, and keep GraveYard Jones playing for years to come. Thanks Jake.

  • Music from the soul!
    author: Jason Bowyer

    What can I say other than Graveyard Jones is pretty deep! Can't wait for the next album.

  • top 10
    author: bart ebisch

    Graveyard Jones figures in the Top 10 of Dutch website Hanx

  • Amazing!
    author: J.T. Gribble

    At the first listen, I thought that this was a great album. After hearing it a few times it got even better. There is no need to skip to "the good songs", they're all awesome. Just hit play and enjoy!

  • As deep as you'd expect
    author: Joanie

    Do you really want me to rehash Jake's own blurb on the CD or do you want me to give you something real? How about this? I loved every note, even the ones that made me cry. There's something about the music that grabs my heart and twists and wrings out all the hurt and pain I've held inside for so long. And that's a good thing. That's utter genius.

  • Great music, keep on the good work!
    author: Jan

    A cd that catch me right away! This is the music where you can sit in a bar or tattooshop and just forget everything around you. It is a plesant surprise and i love this kind of music and that's why i am glad that we have the internet because we (here in europe) don't hear this kind of music. So this is an invitation to come play in the best musical surroundens of Amsterdam. The Paradiso!! Thank you Jake La Botz!!! Greetings Jan the Man.

  • The blues man cometh
    author: David

    I have been a fan since I was in the army and Jake la botz delivers everytime. The new cd is awesome with songs like the orphan and something on my mind. I reccomend this cd to everyone I know. If I was you I would buy and if you don't have is other cds. Well buy them right now cause you won't be disappointed.

  • Jake does it again
    author: Ryan

    I first saw Jake La Botz back in LA a few years ago and thought his music was great. Graveyard Jones has quickly become a regular in my music rotation and should be a welcome addition to anyones music collection.

  • author: Alice

    This is the fourth CD of Jake's that I've purchased, and like usual he absolutely blows me away! I also have a prized 'double-secret' cassette tape of Jake's awesome music, which he gave me when we met in 1994 at the Chicago Blue's Festival. I became an instant fan way back then. Jake LaBotz is a Master Musician - Period. Pack your bags prior to flipping on his music, as his voice will carry you to mysterious places. Buy it. Now. This is the Prime Directive.

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