Fires For The Cold
Yep Roc, 2019
8/10
This 4th album from the New Jersey troubadour Jonah Tolchin brings some massive talent as Sara Watkins, Jackson Browne, Rickie Lee Jones, and Fred Tackett, among others, are in attendance for this therapeutic and very emotive effort.
“Supermarket Rage” starts the album exactly opposite of its title with soothing acoustic guitar, violin from Watkins and warm vocals from Tolchin and Watkins that flow with a timeless folk quality, and “The Real You” follows with an even softer approach of campfire-esque strumming and soft percussion.
Elsewhere, “Honeysuckle” is a fuller effort of Americana playfulness with Watkins’ fiddle acrobatics, while the cover of Little Feat’s “Roll Um Easy offers breezy melodies in a vocally strong setting where Browne and Jones are on board with backing vocals.
Near the end, “Day By Day” tips its hat to ‘70s sounds with much grace and even a cello, and “Timeless River” brings us a bare offering and sturdy beat. “Maybe, I’m A Rolling Stone” exits the listen gentle and agile with a live delivery and reserved yet powerful interplay between the instruments.
Primarily anchored by upright bass, acoustic guitar and calm percussion, though Tolchin isn’t even 30 years old, his work resonates like an old soul, and his graceful, introspective song craft carries shards of Springsteen and Dylan with it, and is executed with a similar impact.
Travels well with: Aaron Lee Tasjan- Silver Tears; Justin Townes Earle- The Saint Of Lost Causes