ZapTown

Jones Street Station
In Verses
Smith Street Records
Rating: 3 out of 5

I never thought the day would come that I would use something like the term progressive bluegrass to describe a band. For Jones Street Station, there is no other way around it

Coming from a state that cherishes their Bill Monroe and the traditional elements of bluegrass, something like In Versus is an oddity. For a band that can fit easily nestled in a ‘90s alternative style as well as being bumped up against a bunch of bearded claw hammer pickers, it’s a sound that can work both for or against them.

When you combine the styles together, you would expect something that comes out of a Jimmie Dale Gilmore discography, but in reality, you get something a little more unique. What The Pogues did to Irish music, In Versus does to the country, just not as good as The Pogues.

Banjos and mandolins conjoin with electric guitars and farfisas and whatever other instruments they bring in. The glue is the twang. And this band can be twangy — too twangy. In addition, every so often, one of the band members chime in with over-exemplified vocals that make it sound like some random fan barged into the studio to lend a helping hand. The farther they drift from the traditional elements the better the band is. “Slow Lights” is better than any Blue Rodeo song. “Open” is what the band should try to aim for with every song and its expressive nature and depth of emotion only to be outdone by “Oh Victoria,” a song that takes that progressive nature to its peak.

With just as many great songs, there are an equal amount of mediocre ones make songs like “Everygreen” and “Front Door” feel too forced. Weed through those songs and you can scout out the gems.

Links:

Jones Street Station Main Site: http://www.jonesstreetstation.net/