Jared Bill is out with his sophomore 10-track album, “Mystery Man” via South Country Records. Jared Bill is an extremely talented singer-songwriter and storyteller. Most of the stories in his songs are fictitious, although loosely based on his real life experiences. Each song has a story that will enchant the listener and keep them eager to hear the next song. Rock the Pigeon is proud to break down the record, track by track, in this honest review.
Drums and smooth acoustic guitars kick off the album with the song “The Jared Bill, Pt. 2.” This is a follow-up to the story on his first record, titled “The Jared Bill.” For fans that have been left wondering, what happened, you can finally hear the next part of the story now. We are immediately hooked into the record by a great story that is exciting and captivating. Jared Bill is trying to cash a check to pay off his debts while being on the run from the police. We hear the tale of the sheriffs being on Jared Bill’s trail. The bluesy piano playing greatly lifts the song to new heights, while Jared Bill tells his outlaw country story, keeping the listeners on the edge of their seats. The song is made complete with several electric guitar solos of different styles and excellent riffs.
“Although exaggerated and fictitious, the tales are based on real events and experiences from my life. The inspiration for this album derives from my desire to draw listeners into the stories, which are very much an interconnected labyrinth all existing in the same universe. I am an entertainer and storyteller; if the audience isn’t satisfied then I have failed to do my job.” – Jared Bill
The character of Jared Bill smelt like turkey as a baby, and still smells like turkey now. Acoustic guitars kick off this tale, “Turkey Baby,” the origin story of Mr. Jared Bill. He sings in a low-toned country voice about holding a turkey baster instead of a rattle, and smelling like a classic Thanksgiving feast. These funky lyrics come across as comical and very clever while fully captivating the listener. A simple electric guitar solo serves this country ballad perfectly. His parent’s jobs were of a painter and a submarine-builder. Now we hear where Jared Bill comes from. Where will he go next?
Sung from the third-person perspective, it is the story that serves as the inspiration behind the entire album, “The Corduroy Showdown.” We enter the scene of a bar, and by the sound of the music is must be a country saloon. Bullets begin to fly throughout the bar, ricocheting off the walls, and blasting through his corduroy jacket, leaving a form of battle scar marks. The album cover shows what happens next, do the rivals make up? And then what will they do? We’ll let the listener, listen in, and have their own Corduroy Showdown experience. Allow yourself to be fully immersed in the story while listening to this incredible piece of storytelling music.
Jared Bill kicks off another adventure on “Vindaloo.” He sings about the extra spicy Indian curry dish that is a popular choice at many Indian restaurants. Is this famous dish too spicy for a man like Jared Bill to handle? Let’s find out! This slow ballad is a tribute to the famous dish, and features acoustic guitar and a slow pacing. Vocally, Jared Bill takes on an accent for this song, one from his friend Lou Vinda, which may come across as disrespectful to some.
“The Man With No Middle Name” features some of the best acoustic guitars on the record. We hear more of the story of Jared Bill. He is considered popular in his town, bringing justice, and serving the population wherever he goes. However, his rise to fame is not because of his lack of middle name, but because he saves the town from a madman that is trying to terrorize the town. The story goes even deeper and gets more intense throughout the song. The acoustic guitars help tell the story.
The tone of the record changes for “Corgi on the 2nd Floor.” This song is darker in town, featuring a smooth bass line and a grungy vocal tone to start off the recording. This song is a breath of fresh air on the record, going between a classic country style and a grungy style. Jared Bill comes in with a rambling, yet very catchy, vocal line. The guitar riffs perfectly follow Jared Bill’s vocal delivery. This is a stand-out song on the record for its change of tone and great storytelling, it’s a departure from the previous songs on the record, but still very fitting. The next song serves as a warning track. “Avoid Ferries” gives tips when having to travel on ferries. The moral of the story is to completely avoid ferries. If you do need to hop on a ferry to get to your destination, Jared Bill, and Magic Mandofox, singing great guest vocals, have information for you, which is cleverly listed throughout this song.
“Tabs and Slots” is Jared Bill’s personal favorite song on the record. This song is about gambling, from going from a winning streak, to losing it all. It’s a story that rings true all too often for many. This is a high energy song that will keep listeners on the edge of their seats. What will Jared Bill do when he looses all his money to gambling? Is there anyway out? The distorted guitars amplify the energy throughout the track, making this song stand out greatly.
“The Girl in the Dakine Sweatshirt” starts off with descriptive lyrics about a woman that Jared Bill takes interest in. This song has the best guitar solo on the record – it’s truly unique! Jared Bill sings this very mysterious woman, who he compares to a mirage. Her personality is described as being a thrill seeker: “her only love is her next thrill.” Speaking of thrills, the record ends in a fun place about racing cars. The last track on the record is “Thompson Speedway” where Jared Bill transports back to being a little kid, mesmerized by the racing cars rounding the corners of the track. He reflects on his relationship with his father in this great ballad. This is definitely the most emotional track on the record.
Listen to the record in full!
Listen to the record on YouTube now:
“I would like to thank Reggie Duncan, the best steel pedal guitar player out there.” – Jared Bill
Find out more: Southcountyrecords.com
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