Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and owner of the highly regarded JAM label. That’s Jeremy Morris, who for nearly thirty years, has been knocking out a steady stream of solo albums encompassing everything from pop to psychedelic rock to hard rock to progressive rock to acoustic instrumentals to spiritual music.
He also plays in the Lemon Clocks and frequently works with a number of other musicians as well. But All Over The World (JAM Recordings) marks Jeremy’s first live project, and as is the fact with previous offerings, the selection and quality of the material is totally top-notch.
The members of the Jeremy Band, aside from Jeremy of course, are Todd Borsch, Peter Morris, Mark Morris, Dave Dietrich, April Zimont, Bart Mendoza, and Jon Kanis. Containing cuts recorded between 2003 and 2013 in places such as Liverpool, England, Chicago, Illinois, and San Diego, California, All Over The World is not your run-of-the-mill live album. Not only do most discs of this ilk tend to be riddled with mumbled banter and shoddy sonics, but the songs rarely reflect the essence of the studio tracks. However, All Over The World is strictly about the music and revisits the songs with spot on precision. There’s no dead air here, and the band’s performances are tight and driven.
Bursting with stamina, All Over The World rocks with dignity and clarity. The tone and temper is continually positive, thickened by dollops of burly hooks and majestic harmonies. Focusing on a remodeled brand of classic rock, the Jeremy Band hijacks the finest fibers of artists like the Who, the Byrds, the Pretty Things, Deep Purple, the Sweet, Blue Oyster Cult, and Raspberries, and turns these influences into original concepts. Spontaneous enthusiasm and creativity are at the helm, leading to songs that demand instant reactions.
Propelled by bright and bubbly Beatlesque vocals, leaking with lucidity, the Jeremy Band is additionally characterized by blizzards of brutal power chords resting eye to eye with jingly jangly joy, while the percussion boasts the brawn of a whipping tornado. Solid structures, fused with adventurous melodies and a pure love for the music are further attractive angles to be savored.
Quaking with roasting rhythms and whirly twirly licks, “Breaking Out Of This Cage” smokes with heavy metal supremacy, “Where There’s A Will” shuffles, stutters, and squiggles to gleaming glam rock edge, and the utterly electrifying “Rainbow Bridge” casts a trippy psychedelic glaze across the board. Guided by a plucky punch, “Come On Over” is the type of ridiculously catchy pop song impossible not to sing along with, and “Radiant Future Days” dips and dances to a funky undercurrent.
Splitting wide open with intensity and mystique, the inventively textured “Rising Above The Clouds” really makes you feel as if you are rising above the clouds, and “Pop Rules” is a blazing medley featuring memorable riffs from songs by Black Sabbath, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Dick Dale, the Beatles, and Steppenwolf.
Rocking to the max, All Over The World is the way live albums were intended to be. So good is this disc that the listener is encouraged to participate in the fun and excitement of the show. I guarantee you won’t sit still while spinning this album. The Jeremy Band certainly knows how to lay down killer tunes and communicate their thoughts and expressions with insight and integrity. Having stated that, All Over The World is a quintessential rock document and should be purchased with confidence. Bring on the applause for the Jeremy Band!
[amazon_enhanced asin=”B00EO0U084″ container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B006W91LLA” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B000FDN3LK” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B000GXHOM8″ container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B007QW7B7U” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /]
- How ‘Hollies Sing Hollies’ Showed New Promise After Graham Nash’s Exit - November 14, 2024
- Barry Melton on Country Joe and the Fish, Woodstock – and That Chant - August 15, 2024
- Bachman-Turner Overdrive Set a New Standard With ‘Not Fragile’ - August 7, 2024
