Trace
Self-Released, 2021
9/10
A Birmingham, Alabama artist who sure has been prolific these last few years, Jaco returns with another batch of his ‘90s influenced rock that touches on grunge, power-pop and alt-rock.
“I Blow My Mind” starts the listen with warm acoustic guitar before firm drumming and some psychedelic ideas enter the melodic and gritty landscape, and “The Byzantine” follows with a thicker delivery of Brit-rock ideas mixed into the crunchy indie-rock energy.
“Wanna Get High” arrives at the halfway point and trims the pace back with calmer moments of beauty mixed with some alt-rock tension, while “21st Century TV” thumps with a rugged, soaring quality that carries an anthemic spirit amid some lo-fi tendencies.
Moving towards the end, “Play Dead” emits a playful, upbeat, indie-pop feel that’s as contagious as it is memorable, and “Wanna Feel Sad” exits the listen cozy and intimate and with no shortage of summery strumming, too.
A record that manages to remind us of both Rivers Cuomo and Bob Mould, 3 albums in 3 years is no easy task, and Jaco accomplishes the feat with much diversity from his sonic palette that you’ll likely be smitten with on the first listen.
Travels well with: Bob Mould- Blue Hearts; The Persian Leaps- Bicycle Face