Awesome!
Self-Released, 2019
8/10
An aptly titled album, Jesse Friedberg, aka Jesse Jukebox, brings a massive amount of energy and skill to Awesome!, where the Berklee College of Music graduate taps into his inner child across these 6 adventures.
“Awesome!’ gets the listen off to a rockin’ start where Jesse talks about how awesome pancakes, polar bears and Mac & Cheese, among many other things are, and the music buzzes with a quick pace, and “Listen To Your Gut” follows with whistling and acoustic guitar strumming in the folksy influenced fun.
The back half of the listen offers the horn friendly “Complicated Kid”, which bursts into an agile soft rocker with an infectious chorus, and “I Wanna Learn!” flows with a retro feel of soaring vocals as random facts are relayed from some young voices. “Right Where You Belong” ends the listen calm and smooth with a breezy singer-songwriter exit where wise wordplay follows suit to the timeless music.
Friedberg didn’t have the easiest childhood, dealing with behavioral and learnings problems, and was even diagnosed with ADHD. With his music he strives to reach children dealing with similar issues, as a way to remind them that they’re not alone and with the idea to communicate to them to seek out their inner awesome. I’d say he’s going to strike a chord with both kids and adults on this very lively and contagious record.
Travels well with: Sharon & Bram- Sharon & Bram And Friends; Moozika!- Moove To The Moozika!,