My Jerusalem
Jay from Prescription PR recently dropped us a line about Preachers, the second full-length release from Austin based My Jerusalem, to see what we thought of things. Recorded in under three weeks, this is an album made by the band, not using the studio to make a sound or digitalisation when setting it up, instead using analogue tape machines and vintage keyboards to produce an album which is sure to offer up a compelling and definitive sound from start to finish. Seeing as their debut album Gone For Good was so well received, I thought it about time we jump into this new offering to see what they had come up with.
Opening with title track Preachers (you can see the video for this track below)we’re led into the album softly, a dark yet melodic piano line getting things going before the deep and echoey vocals come into lead the way. As the track builds around you it’s impossible to resist the mix which is built, growing around you and showing off the basic recording techniques used in recording the album – it’s a classic sound with an updated sense of freshness. Shatter Together once again continues this idea, this time offering up a bass-centric mix designed to get you listening, moving, and wanting more. The deep and powerful bass combines with the vocals, the drums, and the continuing sense that this is a band we’re hearing rather than a studio or a producer. There’s something about this track which harks back to the 80’s, something which gives it that dark, almost new wave sound – something which is surely going to stand these guys in great stead moving forwards from here as it sets them up for a hell of a fan base.
Born In The Belly comes up next to take the lead, this time offering up a harder hitting guitar line to get things going before fading down to a blues like riff, the sort of thing which will get beers flowing, people dancing and everyone wanting a hell of a lot more. This is definitely a heavier side to the band we’re seeing on this track, the sort of thing which shows they’re capable of combining their sound with more classic approaches to develop into something of a hybrid, the sort of thing which is going to connect with fans of different genres for sure, as well as the sort of thing which sounds like it’s going to be awesome on the live scene. Changing their style once again for Mono, out goes the heavy and back in comes the soft and melodic approach of earlier in the album, showing off the bands ability to move from one style to another without so much as a blink, something which very few bands can achieve. What’s most striking is that they’ve made the album work despite these shifts from heavy to soft – they don’t sound out of place or wrong and instead, allow the album to flow through the different movements, keeping you along for the ride and making sure you’re there and ready for the next track.
Track after track seems to flow out of the speakers as the album continues, from This Time, to Death Valley, onto Devoe and then Between Space, but it’s when Oh Little sister comes about that another serious high point is achieved. The opening moments of this track had me thinking off Queens Of The Stoneage, then as the track pulled back from the edge it took on more of a classic rock vibe, it’s a journey within a journey if that makes sense. This is a track you need to really listen to in order to fully appreciate as simply, there’s so much going on within it! From a brass section through to keys, through to hammering guitar lines and those soft yet powerful vocals – it’s all there, and all works to produce a hell of a track.
Penultimate track Chameleon is soon upon us, once again pulling back from the edge and showing us the more restrained and soft side of the band, reminding us of the earlier soulful moments and making sure that you’re still there and listening. This move back to soft is once again one which works, and another moment on the album which is going to stand out as one to check out. I’m a self confessed fan of heavy bands and tracks but there’s something about the music on offer here which just works, it doesn’t need to be heavier or over the top as the mix the guys have gone for works, and promises to be something a hell of a lot of people are going to want to hear more of. It’s only left then for I Left My Conscience In You to close the album, finishing on another soft and real sounding track, leaving you safe in the knowledge that this has been a real album put together by real musicians with a real understanding of their craft – closing the album in a solid manner and leaving you content, warm, and wanting more.
I love it when I come across a band like My Jerusalem as it reminds my why I love this job, getting to hear these albums when, to be quite honest, I’d probably walk past it in a shop. This isn’t an album which is heavy, or an album which is over the top, but it’s an album which you’ll be able to listen to time and time again without getting bored, and the sort of thing you’ll be telling your friends about for months to come, it’s got that feeling of a classic written all over it. Definitely a band to make sure you check out – make sure you get on and get hold of this album, you won’t be disappointed.
To find out more about My Jerusalem, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out the video for Preachers below to see what you think!
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with title track Preachers (you can see the video for this track below)we’re led into the album softly, a dark yet melodic piano line getting things going before the deep and echoey vocals come into lead the way. As the track builds around you it’s impossible to resist the mix which is built, growing around you and showing off the basic recording techniques used in recording the album – it’s a classic sound with an updated sense of freshness. Shatter Together once again continues this idea, this time offering up a bass-centric mix designed to get you listening, moving, and wanting more. The deep and powerful bass combines with the vocals, the drums, and the continuing sense that this is a band we’re hearing rather than a studio or a producer. There’s something about this track which harks back to the 80’s, something which gives it that dark, almost new wave sound – something which is surely going to stand these guys in great stead moving forwards from here as it sets them up for a hell of a fan base.
Born In The Belly comes up next to take the lead, this time offering up a harder hitting guitar line to get things going before fading down to a blues like riff, the sort of thing which will get beers flowing, people dancing and everyone wanting a hell of a lot more. This is definitely a heavier side to the band we’re seeing on this track, the sort of thing which shows they’re capable of combining their sound with more classic approaches to develop into something of a hybrid, the sort of thing which is going to connect with fans of different genres for sure, as well as the sort of thing which sounds like it’s going to be awesome on the live scene. Changing their style once again for Mono, out goes the heavy and back in comes the soft and melodic approach of earlier in the album, showing off the bands ability to move from one style to another without so much as a blink, something which very few bands can achieve. What’s most striking is that they’ve made the album work despite these shifts from heavy to soft – they don’t sound out of place or wrong and instead, allow the album to flow through the different movements, keeping you along for the ride and making sure you’re there and ready for the next track.
Track after track seems to flow out of the speakers as the album continues, from This Time, to Death Valley, onto Devoe and then Between Space, but it’s when Oh Little sister comes about that another serious high point is achieved. The opening moments of this track had me thinking off Queens Of The Stoneage, then as the track pulled back from the edge it took on more of a classic rock vibe, it’s a journey within a journey if that makes sense. This is a track you need to really listen to in order to fully appreciate as simply, there’s so much going on within it! From a brass section through to keys, through to hammering guitar lines and those soft yet powerful vocals – it’s all there, and all works to produce a hell of a track.
Penultimate track Chameleon is soon upon us, once again pulling back from the edge and showing us the more restrained and soft side of the band, reminding us of the earlier soulful moments and making sure that you’re still there and listening. This move back to soft is once again one which works, and another moment on the album which is going to stand out as one to check out. I’m a self confessed fan of heavy bands and tracks but there’s something about the music on offer here which just works, it doesn’t need to be heavier or over the top as the mix the guys have gone for works, and promises to be something a hell of a lot of people are going to want to hear more of. It’s only left then for I Left My Conscience In You to close the album, finishing on another soft and real sounding track, leaving you safe in the knowledge that this has been a real album put together by real musicians with a real understanding of their craft – closing the album in a solid manner and leaving you content, warm, and wanting more.
I love it when I come across a band like My Jerusalem as it reminds my why I love this job, getting to hear these albums when, to be quite honest, I’d probably walk past it in a shop. This isn’t an album which is heavy, or an album which is over the top, but it’s an album which you’ll be able to listen to time and time again without getting bored, and the sort of thing you’ll be telling your friends about for months to come, it’s got that feeling of a classic written all over it. Definitely a band to make sure you check out – make sure you get on and get hold of this album, you won’t be disappointed.
To find out more about My Jerusalem, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out the video for Preachers below to see what you think!
Words: Dave Nicholls