Lyrics at http://www.kennyjacobson.com/kj/Lyrics-TEIEW.pdf
"Granted, this is no honky-tonk record from Bakersfield, but those influences work nicely alongside Ryan Adams, Neil Young and Ellis Paul, as Kenny seeks to come to terms with loves he has left, and love that has left him. Yes, Kenny may be grappling with some demons from the past, but they are exorcised beautifully over the course of the CD's eleven tracks. It opens with the poignant "Love You More," where gently strummed guitars and pedal-steel shuffle along to tell a Dylan-esque tale where, once again, the "good guy" loses; "Nashville," "Least of All Me" and "Licking My Wounds" mine similar territory, blending accordions and mandolins with more traditional instrumentation as Kenny's sense of ironic justice keeps you from feeling too sorry for his protagonists.
"But Kenny's music is far from depressing, for even when at his most forlorn, there is a hope that radiates from within, as if through the simple act of singing these songs, all will be made well. Besides, despite the music's generally solemn subject matter, the arrangements are quite upbeat, whether it's the raucous true-to-form murder-ballad "Never To Die," or the horn-drenched "Hallelujah," which owes much more to the Stax catalog than Ralph Stanley (not to mention that it features the horn section of Save Ferris!).
"Ultimately, though, it is Kenny's love of American roots music--of playing it, of writing it, of living it-that shines though on Take Everything I Ever Wanted. He's done his homework and learned the traditions, but, like the outlaws who have obviously inspired him, Kenny knows that, in the end, without heart, you're truly hopeless."
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"Why in Jacobson's second studio produced album did he make the move to a genuine country sound? Interest, restlessness, musical ingenuity, but mostly because Jacobson's musical attitude is sincere. It always has been, and as alternative country, Jacobson's sincerity shines. His vocal sound is gentle, sometimes powerful enough to catch your breath, but always warm and alive with feeling. With the cleverest of lyrics, Kenny manages to say what we all feel so often in ended relationships. Listen again, and then listen yet again--at some point you will find yourself catching his wordplay and witticisms. You may laugh in the middle of his pain at the very truth he is able to express. And there are no pop formulas here. Kenny is real life, he uses a real sound to fully capture that honesty. Lyrics and voice alike, Mr. Jacobson is a very warm musician."
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"Kenny is astoundingly emotionally accurate; even in pain, he frankly acknowledges our need to remain vulnerable to love. His writing is open and personal, yet it is disciplined by his graduate degree in language, which energizes theses ballads with nuance and innovation that make relistening mandatory and rewarding. This is intellectual College Country music with a full measure of soul built in."
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