Results Not Typical
Self-Released, 2023
9/10
An excellent debut of Northwest flavored Americana, the singer-songwriter Ian Jones pens songs we can all relate to, and they’re full of melodic sensibilities that flirt with folk and pop ideas, too.
“Rollin” gets the listen off to a very warm start, where Jesse Siebenberg’s cozy pedal steel complements Jones’ eloquent wordplay that’s full of expressive Americana, and “You Can’t” follows with firm keys from Dave Palmer and Joey Waronker’s well timed drums for the cautious country-rock nods.
Further along, the frisky “Athens Smiles” welcomes Jacob Cartwright’s string contributions and Gabe Noel’s bouncy bass to the album highlight, while “Again” uses intimate acoustic guitar and light piano from Aaron Embry for the richly textured, thoughtful landscape.
The final 2 tracks are also top notch, where “Have Mercy” is populated by Johnny Flaugher’s superb bass and Jason Soda’s strategic guitar for the nostalgic appeal, and “Goodbyes Are The Hardest Words” exits with a lush, rootsy demeanor that’s breezy, rugged and timeless.
A highly accessible first album that touches on ‘70s outlaw country and might even have you digging out your Tom Petty and Jackson Browne records, Ian Jones is a name we’ll all be hearing a lot more of in the future, and for good reason; the guy can write a song you won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: Helene Cronin- Landmarks; Austin Mayse- Bridges And Kerosene