Album Notes

“If you’re anything like me then you probably think there aren’t enough cat’s carrying on the (Paul) Westerberg torch. If that be the case, then look no further than my man Jim Salinger. His new one, HEYOKA, is simply just a great no bullshit rock record much in the vein of Westy’s “14 Songs”. Definitely diggin’ it.” - captainsdead.com


In the thunderous spirit of it's Native American namesake Jim Salinger's second independent release, HEYOKA, is a conscious observation of the vibrant contrasts that paint the heart of every man.

Salinger's pleading lyrics are bittersweet, insightful and skillfully welded to melodies that are both enduring and endearing. In the mystical chamber pop of "All The Hearts In The Universe" a star-crossed sister is gently asked "How can you misconstrue/I love you?". On the acoustic charmer "Like Lucifer", a song written from the perspective of cracked rock n' roll trailblazer Roky Erickson, he sings "Demons come/Demons go/If I smile again/Then you'll know/I've come back to you". Seems the devils Salinger's been exorcising aren't just his, they're our own.

Whether it's 60's garage rock revivals (About That Kiss) or heart on your sleeve weepers (In The Street, In The Night) this album is chock-full of raw gems that gradually reveal their many facets. For all you Tecate swillin' roots rockers out there, Salinger's lead guitar positively rips on the chain smoking jam at the end of "Blinding Love".

"Don't Smoke Anymore" details the poetic yearning of an ex-smoker as he contemplates whether he should ask a luminescent lass for a light. Wrapped in this aching Neil Young-style confessional any empathetic listener can conjure their own trepidation.

And right smack in the middle of this amazingly diverse collection lies "Heyoka" an inspired and understated meditation that sounds like a crucial track Beck forgot to put on Sea Changes. Here, Salinger knowingly encapsulates the personal truth that can only unfold while following your own path: "If no one knows the way/Then that's the only way."

Jim is backed by The Drunken Arms, an array of accomplished players from all over the L.A. underground (The Broken Remotes, Bolero, the Quincy Blaque trio) creating a sound that is truly organic and eclectic.