Rhode Island rocker Tequila Jim just released his new album. Titled American, it’s as feisty, lean and mean as anything he’s ever released in the past. Tequila Jim beautifully marries his rock and roll instincts with his singer-songwriter sensibilities.
Opening cut “Who You Are” pushes its way forward with a smoldering lead guitar phrase simmering over a rambunctious rhythm section. Meanwhile, Tequila Jim’s soft, smooth vocal contrasts with the instrumentation, creating a soothing, nurturing vibe within this rocker. This creamy center keeps the song engaging with its internal depth.
Inspired by medieval history, “My Lady Fair” conjures, with its mandolin and percussion in tight unison, a sense of horse travel. An acoustic guitar melody has notes falling like a soft rain as Tequila Jim sings through an effects device, making his voice sound like it’s traveling through time to reach us here in the present.
Keyboardist Alex Zisiades sings lead vocal on “Presidium (Right Or Wrong),” a mid-tempo rocker with grunge guitar, bleeding acoustic guitar emotions, and a raspy vocal singing world-weary lyrics. The vocals brim with charisma while a wiry lead guitar phrase takes over, injecting a lot of spark into this laid back affair.
“Oh My Love” travels a gravel path made up of Tequila Jim’s rugged acoustic guitar strum. His deadpan vocals let his emotive lyrics speak for themselves. Concerned with an elusive love, Tequila Jim slaps his acoustic guitars beside Sam Patrie’s light rain piano tinkling. The three elements together make this song a tasty broth sum out of its delicate parts.
“Her Life She Loves” grooves like a late 1960s rock and roll number. It consists of mellow lead vocals, wide, expansive lead guitar expressions, and a lilting rhythm from acoustic guitar and the rhythm section. One can feel this tune swaying side to side as it makes its soothing way forward. Seagull sound effects too complete the vibe as much as some cooing backup vocal.
“And I Still Love You” tap dances along a measured pace, a hopscotch through a sonic landscape. Hollis Higgins smacks just enough fills into the song to make it move with grace. Snappy rhythm guitar thickens the motions of this pace too. This all leaves just enough space atop for Tequila Jim to inject his vocal parts in brief tight bits. These small parts come together tight as puzzle pieces and that assemblage makes this song cool.
“A Message To The Earth People” segues sci fi style into the snap, crackle, pop acoustic guitar allure of “My State Of Mind.” Airy lead vocals over a persistent acoustic strums conjure a sense of early Pink Floyd.
Country flavored piano and a pedal steel guitar give a fun, honkytonk vibe to the hillbilly narrative “How Can I Miss You (You Won’t Go Away).” Weepy pedal steel phrasing and a lilting piano groove beneath it form the perfect backdrop to this humorous tale of a clinging, interfering ex.
“Theater” is a wide sweeping mellotron number that involves many textures in its ever growing and involving sound. It’s too bad this piece, composed by Tequila Jim’s son years ago, only last a minute. Segue “Into The Void” and the listener suddenly finds himself immersed in a folk-rock, acoustic guitar and drum beat driven good time. Like many tunes on this American album, it eventually evolves into a lead guitar spearheaded piece that rocks with edge as well as with a playful narrative expressed by a smooth, accessible vocal.
“Into The Void” stomps in with a bossy acoustic guitar and a pushy groove. Still, Tequila Jim manages to maintain a vocal mellow bridge between each section of this marching anthem. His voice deadpans through serious lyrics as his acoustic six string splashes its melody and chords all over the driving groove beneath it. It then engages even more when Tequila Jim grinds his electric guitar phrase right down the center of this thick weave of drive and perseverance.
“Come Down Jill” finds Tequila Jim back in mellow acoustic mood. His edgier vocal timbre perfectly contrasts with his soft rain drop acoustic notes. He makes you feel the seriousness of this song of support, likely sung to his daughter or niece, telling her not to take to heart the ego problems of boys and their obnoxious behavior. This one can be felt as well as heard.
Staying within that chill acoustic vibe, Tequila Jim sings “Salt Hill” with a soulful sincerity. Using his gentler timbre. Tequila Jim weaves an emotive vibe with an electric six string over his acoustic six. Solemn beauty flows from the speakers during this laid back of thoughtfulness.
Strongly slapped acoustic guitar chords usher in “Existentially Preternaturally,” a lilting folk-rock tune, complete with a drolli vocal that makes it feel personable and real. It is the perky little motions going on beneath Tequila Jim’s voice that keep it fun. Multitudes of acoustic notes and a wooded percussion sound give it a palpable backbone too.
Brief close out track “Are You Still There?” consists of a choir of solemn harmonies. It is as musically fit as it is darkly humorous, asking if a listener is still listening by the end of the album. Clever and entertaining.
Tequila Jim continues to release this albums that combine influences from the singer-songwriter and rock and roll genres. Edgy thoughtfulness or rocking his conscience works well for Tequila Jim. All of the tunes on this album are buzzing with their own personal spark. Lead guitarist Sam Patrie, pianist Nick Lancelotti, drummer Hollis Higgins, and pedal steel guitarist Aaron Hill went along for the ride at True Music Studios in Smithfield, Rhode Island where Anders Borg and Nick Lancelotti got a good sound quality in each quirky number.
