Jackson Scribner
State Fair/We Know Better, 2021
8/10
Although he’s just a youngster, the Dallas artist Jackson Scribner delivers like an old soul on this debut album, where help from Jeff Ryan (The War On Drugs), John Dufilho (The Deathray Davies), and Jerome Brock (Cryptolog) illuminate his honest and raw formula.
“Family Gatherings” starts the listen with warm, bare acoustic guitar and brushed drumming as Scribner’s unique, expressive vocals guide the indie-folk landscape, and the upbeat “Sixteen” follows with a playful spirit as the glowing pedal steel adds much to the reflective climate.
Halfway through, “3AM” flows with a poetic quality as a timeless Americana influence is full of emotive songwriting, while “Take Me To Your Water” displays gorgeous acoustic strumming that’s not short on eloquence or memorable song craft.
The quick listen exits on “Country Road 497” and “Ain’t It Something”, where the former emits a bit of a haunting quality where some of best guitar playing resides, and the latter showcases Scribner’s intimate and forthright nature amid sublime storytelling.
Scribner’s got a lengthy history in music that goes back to learning guitar at age 9, and his alluring vocals and stirring song craft make it quite obvious that the 20 year old has a bright future ahead of him.
Travels well with: Mackenzie Shivers- Rejection Letter; Natalie D-Napoleon- You Wanted To Be The Shore But Instead You Were The Sea