You are hereAlbum Review: JT and the Clouds - Caledonia (Dishrag)
Album Review: JT and the Clouds - Caledonia (Dishrag)
This feast of soulful pop from Chicago based inde band JT and the Clouds arrives just in time to coincide with their forthcoming UK tour in February 2011. At times reminiscent of Little Feat's Time Loves a Hero period, particularly on How It Runs, with its soul-fuelled exchanges between funky guitar licks and wailing Hammond, CALEDONIA offers more than a nod towards a bright and breezy 1970's California as exemplified in the music of such bands as the Doobie Brothers for instance.
With contributions from Po' Girl's Allison Russell, singer/guitarist Jeremy 'JT' Lindsay stands at the helm of a tight outfit, that delivers a mixture of R&B numbers and tuneful indie-pop songs, an outfit that also includes brother Drew on keyboards, Dan Abu-Absi on guitars, Chris Neal on keyboards, sax and percussion, Chris Merrill on bass and Mikey 'Lightning' August on drums.
Melodic from the start, the songs feature Lindsay's rich falsetto vocals, in places reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield, with a similar conviction of reaching the emotions. Caledonia is as anthemic as anything Neil Young did back in the early 1970s, sounding as fresh and immediate as some of those Journey Through the Past studio workouts, with tight vocal harmonies augmented by a sneering yet soulful guitar solo and cascading synth riffs throughout.
Produced by the band together with Zach Goheen, CALEDONIA also incorporates some tastefully rendered horn arrangements courtesy of Chris Neal, featuring the horns of Shane Jones and Dave Levine on the thoroughly exciting opener Fever Dream, the pulsating Grow Your Flowers and the beautifully soulful I Have Heard Words.
Recognised in their home city, being sited as one of the ten bands on the verge of breaking big in 2010 by the Chicago Tribune, JT and the Clouds will no doubt be well received in February on this side of the pond.
Allan Wilkinson
Northern Sky
