Reviews:: Jon Epworth Turn Off Your Name II

On his last effort (review), Jon Epworth wanted us all to know it's not the size of the room you play, it's the songs you write. He focused on substance over style, holding onto the fleeting notion that it's not what you sell, it's what you make. Some might call the notion naive, other's idealistic but as the music industry finds more and more cracks in the foundation, it's important to know that the music isn't suffering.

I guess considering Turn Off Your Name II is the second piece to his puzzle, it's not surprising that musical freedom he found dominates the new record. The ten-songs are fragmented, diverse and really only held together by the most tattered of threads (in this case, Jon's voice).

Autograph starts as a simple drone, but explodes into a grungy mess (compliment). Searing guitar notes fly all over the second half of the track, battling through the sludge like Andy escaping Shawshank. The five-minutes are heavy, and gets you ready for a non-stop aural onslaught of guitar solos, noise, and feedback... that doesn't come. Instead, Epworth changes pace and offers up one of the most personal efforts on the record. Drapery Store is an emotional, piano driven confessional from a musician realizing he picked a path that won't end in riches and that he's got no Plan B. Remarkably, as soon as the two minute track ends, he throws another changeup with a sing/spoken, anti-technology rant cased inside a 90's inspired jam.

When it comes to throwing on TOYN II and just letting it run, well, I'm not sure that will happen, but in today's IPOD age these snapshots of Jon's inner thoughts aren't impacted by the schizophrenic track sequencing. Jon knows there is nothing cohesive about the record, and when he admits on the rootsy Names that he is moving in seven different directions and that constant state of change is the exact feeling you get listening to the album.

It's hard to settle into the record, you almost feel like you are flipping through an artist's sketchbook, but those feelings of being lost is one common to most people in today's day in age. That might be why you feel comfortable moving around when he hits you with up-tempo jams like Hold Steady and are so comfortable holding the slow sizzlers tight. Jon's fragmented visions are unique to him, but the thoughts and emotions they evoke are more universal than even he might have imagined. It's not perfect, but neither is he. None of us are.

MP3:: Jon Epworth - Names
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/jonepworth

Labels: Halifax, Jon Epworth, Music, Reviews