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Jonah Smith

by Jonah Smith

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    Mixing blue-eyed soul vocals with swampy Southern Americana, Jonah Smith taps into a distinctive and inviting singer/songwriter groove on his nationally distributed debut for the Relix label (he has two previous indie records). The sound is similar to that of the Band, reinforced by the appearance of that group's organist/horn player, Garth Hudson. Even though Hudson only officially contributes to one track, his presence looms large over the project. Still, this is very much Smith's album, and it is his songs and especially his warm voice -- somewhat like a combination of the Band's Levon Helm and Richard Manuel -- that makes these tunes come alive. Most songs ride a midtempo rhythm, barely breaking a sweat but connecting by sheer melodic force and Smith's charming, low-key singing. There is also a touch of Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection in the rootsy sound. The production and especially the sympathetic horn charts support the songs in supple and subtle ways. "Everything Is New," in particular, floats by like a dream you want to remember more of. Characters in Smith's songs are generally a sad lot, but all are searching for, and expect to find, better days. David Soler's guitar, especially his pedal steel, bolsters these songs without calling undue attention to itself. The unhurried quality of the album in no way makes it bland. Rather, these gorgeous songs drift on clouds of electric piano with traces of gospel, jazz, and blues added to the Southern singer/songwriter style. Smith's talented four-piece band supports the sound without overwhelming the material. Those familiar with the work of Randall Bramblett are encouraged to check out Smith, since both wade in similar waters. An extra track not listed on the back cover, "I Feel More Like I Did Back Then (Than I Do Right Now)," finds Smith edging into Dylan's late-'60s period. There is a hypnotic quality to this release and production that, like the best albums, stays on the back burner yet beckons the listener back for another spin. (Hal Horowitz - Allmusic.com)

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of A Captive Audience For Captain Obvious, The New Forevers, Listen Close, Stay Close, Easy Prey, Skyscraper Blues, In The Kitchen, Little Known Cure, and 7 more. , and , .

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1.
Little Black Angels Little black angels Calling my name Tell my brothers That there’s no shame In calling out for love When you’re alone I’ve been waiting for love to answer me To explain these senseless things that come to be Little black angels Out on the street Keep your mothers Down on their knees ‘cause I realized so long ago That a damaged soul will never stay too long And if you break my heart again, I’ll be gone Leave the candle lit On the windowsill You’re faith won’t let you quit This time Little black angels Coming for me Tell my brothers To go in peace I decided long ago That this life here on earth is worth a try And I’ll break my back before I let my spirit die
2.
When We Say Goodnight Two years of dust swept in the corner Two years of junk and magazines A picture of a sunset that you drew me Folded in a box of memory Damn, that winter nearly killed us Cooped up every night and day But we have this thing in common Well, you know she likes it as much as me I don’t mind One tear, one sigh But keep me in your thoughts When we say goodnight Take down that picture from the wall A blank canvas before our eyes We don’t need these things no more Another day, a new sunrise Chorus 2X Release myself from earthly things Well it’s foolish, but it bears my name And it’s grown to become part of me Well we’ll leave them behind just the same Chorus 2X Instrumental Break Chorus 3X
3.
Stay Awhile 04:25
Stay Awhile Daylight breaks So easy on you fingertips And you tease me when you’re looking so coy The morning sun is pleased to be lingering on your lips And we can lay here just a little bit more And if it’s all right If it’s all right If it’s all right with you I think I’ll stay awhile And if it’s all right If it’s all right If it’s all right with you I think I’ll stay awhile Well, it’s nine a.m. The taxi idles by the curb And you ask me if I’m feeling okay A stranger’s bed left me singing like a bird And ready to face the day Chorus Well the thinking man’s game’s always knowing where his head’s at But it’s easy to get lost in times like these You can ask me about the thoughts of any angel that sleeps But not mine Daylight breaks So easy on you fingertips And you tease me when you’re looking so coy The morning sun is pleased to be lingering on your lips And we can lay here just a little bit more Chorus
4.
My Morning Scene My morning scene It’s foggy like a TV dream Its lazy heart leaves me careening For the world inside my head The halcyon glow Of the headlights thread the traffic slow Reminds me of things I used to know Like where she’d be this time of day I don’t expect much from this day But I might need some help along the way I don’t expect much from this day But I might need some help along the way Her daily routine of Alarm clock snooze and try to wean Herself from sleep with strong caffeine Out the door and to the train Meet at the show A quick exchange so we both know Just what we think before we go Into the cover of the night Chorus (Guitar Solo) Chorus My evening scene The traffic speeds, the city screams The rain pours and the gutters steam Make me leave the world I’m in The naked trees lean The weight of frozen water clings Your eyelids feel like heavy things As you look out onto the world Chorus Yes, I might need some help along the way Yes, I might need some help along the way
5.
Cast a Long Shadow on the Stars Another night under the same old stars They don’t shine for you anymore You start to think that there’s something else Far out there Drive to the horizon but don’t stop there Drive past the wind and out to where Your name blows hollow an empty phrase And you disappear But the echoes that you hear They leave you with scars As you cast a long shadow on the stars You don’t know how things got out of hand When you were forced to meet these demands But the house was built upon the sand And it’s sinking Another thought, a unique take Nothing to win, nothing at stake Just another man Singing for the sake of singing And the songs ring in your ears And they tell you how things are As you cast a long shadow on the stars A quiet voice that screams so loud An open book but no one’s allowed To get too close in a crowded Room of strangers The days are short but life is long You can’t imagine what went wrong Just another song in a sea of songs But they’re not lost And you’ve paid a heavy cost Just to be who you are And cast a long shadow on the stars Waiting around for lightning to strike But thunder spooks you and leaves you light Floating out to where you thought you might Just find her Another string of words To whisper from afar And cast a long shadow on the stars And cast a long shadow on the stars And cast a long shadow on the stars And cast a long shadow on the stars
6.
Killing Time 04:36
Killing Time We’ll drown in this horrible summer Three stories up from the concrete vine We’re taking a break from our clothes And killing time And I see you Like a vision you appear From the window I try to tell you something But you don’t hear This is no time for a heartbreak The summer’s long and unwinds ahead My only crime is love for love’s sake Is all I said And you’re there Pretending not to see me In my head Climbing on my roof in your high-heeled shoes Looks can be deceiving In my mind a thousand times In my mind a thousand times You turn around And you see my look is sincere For a moment you let down your guard And that toughness disappears One thing leads to another I call you now by your first name The days grow shorter and shorter And the summer wanes Chorus We’ll drown in this horrible summer Three stories up from the concrete vine We’re taking a break from our clothes And killing time Chorus
7.
8.
Everything Is New The First Time Everyone is silent and civil But our issues are obvious And our burdens are heavy But we’ll keep them a lifetime And it’s alright to wonder Everything is new the first time It’s all right to wonder Everything is new the first time It’s all right to wonder Everything is new the first time A simple glance in a photo Gives more away Than the little sweet things We whisper at bedtime And we distance ourselves From an unavoidable future With ritual things That fill up our days Chorus And she watches the moon Waxing and waning Until the day when She’ll no longer notice And she’ll look at the stars Far off in the distance Wonder what they look like Through the eyes of a child That’s seeing them For the first time That’s seeing them For the first time That’s seeing them… Chorus
9.
Give It All Away You look so cold standing alone out there And your breath looks even harder than your stare But you’re better off not knowing certain things About what the future brings How you say You’re gonna give it all away Cause you never take that hard look at yourself To see the naïve little girl stuck on the shelf With a lust-infected heart you gave Us a goddess in the waves Until you gave it all away Life can seem so cheap out on the edge But the moment means so much out on the ledge And you barely know what you’re able to do But you’ll see it though another day Won’t you give it all away? Won’t you leave with me today? I think you’re old enough to say I am I And I don’t mind I think your heart’s in the right place But you hide it in your face You hide it well You hide it well Left to my own devices, yes it’s true That I’m left a faded version of you And it’s dangerous to share those secret thoughts But It’s harder to make them stop Then let them stay Won’t you give it all away? Won’t you give it all away? Won’t you give it all away? Won’t you give it all away?
10.
Both Sides 02:27
Both Sides Getting’ squeezed from both sides Along for the ride This world can be so hard When you don’t want to play by the rules I’m a fool A bad seed I can’t breath You tell me it’s okay Then you offer me a place to stay It’s time for me to leave anyway Getting’ squeezed from both sides Along for the ride This world can be so hard When you don’t want to play by the rules I’m a fool A bad seed I can’t breath You tell me it’s okay
11.
Dressed In White (Malcolm Holcombe) Candles in the window Flashing through the night In the room upstairs a woman In my mind all dressed in white Words wrapped up in losing Hammered to a wall In a dirty city searching In my mind all dressed in white Dressed in white forever Calling for the best The best her father offered In my mind all dressed in white Paul was single man Great as many been told People come and go and why? In my mind all dressed in white Chorus (Pedal break) Candles in the window Flashing through the night In the room upstairs a woman In my mind all dressed in white Chorus 2X
12.
I Feel More Like I Did Back Then (Than I Do Right Now) The Virgin Mary’s on the rag Joseph decides to go stag The crows begin to circle And the wolves do howl I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now Immortality’s that fragile dream That old men dote upon and preen They try to keep their noses clean Before their final hour I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now The apple’s been plucked from the tree The honey’s been gathered by the bee It appealed to the worst in me My salivating jowls I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now Judas is on the ascent He says make an offer to repent It comes down to dollars and cents Religion’s a cash cow I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now The shaking keeps the flies at bay But they’ve set their sights They’re here to stay There’s no one left to talk to That’s worth a damn anyhow I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now I feel more like I did back then Than I do right now

about

Review by Hal Horowitz from allmusic.com

Mixing blue-eyed soul vocals with swampy Southern Americana, Jonah Smith taps into a distinctive and inviting singer/songwriter groove on his nationally distributed debut for the Relix label (he has two previous indie records). The sound is similar to that of the Band, reinforced by the appearance of that group's organist/horn player, Garth Hudson. Even though Hudson only officially contributes to one track, his presence looms large over the project. Still, this is very much Smith's album, and it is his songs and especially his warm voice -- somewhat like a combination of the Band's Levon Helm and Richard Manuel -- that makes these tunes come alive. Most songs ride a midtempo rhythm, barely breaking a sweat but connecting by sheer melodic force and Smith's charming, low-key singing. There is also a touch of Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection in the rootsy sound. The production and especially the sympathetic horn charts support the songs in supple and subtle ways. "Everything Is New," in particular, floats by like a dream you want to remember more of. Characters in Smith's songs are generally a sad lot, but all are searching for, and expect to find, better days. David Soler's guitar, especially his pedal steel, bolsters these songs without calling undue attention to itself. The unhurried quality of the album in no way makes it bland. Rather, these gorgeous songs drift on clouds of electric piano with traces of gospel, jazz, and blues added to the Southern singer/songwriter style. Smith's talented four-piece band supports the sound without overwhelming the material. Those familiar with the work of Randall Bramblett are encouraged to check out Smith, since both wade in similar waters. An extra track not listed on the back cover, "I Feel More Like I Did Back Then (Than I Do Right Now)," finds Smith edging into Dylan's late-'60s period. There is a hypnotic quality to this release and production that, like the best albums, stays on the back burner yet beckons the listener back for another spin.

credits

released June 27, 2006

Little Black Angels
When We Say Goodnight
Stay Awhile
My Morning Scene
Cast A Long Shadow
Killing Time
Everything (Intro)
Everything Is New
Give It All Away *
Both Sides
Dressed In White **

(hidden track) I Feel More Like I Did Back Then…

• *written by Jonah Smith and David Soler
• **written by Malcolm Holcombe

Jonah Smith: vocals, rhodes, piano, songs
Ben Rubin: electric and acoustic bass
David Soler: electric guitars, acoustic guitar, pedal steel
Marko Djordjevic: drums, percussion
Bob Reynolds: tenor saxophone, clarinet + invaluable assistance with the horn charts

Guest Musicians
Elliot Mason – Trombone on Everything (Intro) and Everything is New
Brad Mason – Trumpet, Flugelhorn on Everything (Intro) and Everything is New
Garth Hudson – Accordion on Cast A Long Shadow
Carrie Rodriguez – Harmony Vocals and Fiddle on Stay Awhile
Bill Frisell - electric guitar on Stay Awhile

Produced by Lee Townsend – a Songline/Tonefield production

Adam Munoz - Chief Engineer
Jeremy Backoff - Asst. Engineer
Steve Bernstein – Executive Producer
Ross Elliot – A&R, calling people baby
Jonathan Schwartz – A&R
Edward jahn - Cover art
Greg Kessler – Photography
Richard Bloom – Art Direction

Recorded at The Studio, Woodstock, NY
Additional Recording at Mission Sound, Brooklyn, NY
Mixed at Tainted Blue, New York and @
San Francisco Sound Works by Lee & Adam
Assistant engineer at San Francisco Soundworks: Loredana Palomares
Mastered at Sterling Sound, NY by Greg Calbi
Marko exclusively plays Mapex drums, Zildjian Cymbals, & Evans Drumheads with Vater Sticks (but still badly needs a clothing endorsement).
Frisell Recorded at Flora Studio, Seattle by Tucker Martine

All songs written by Jonah Smith except where otherwise noted

I’d like to thank my band for making these songs come to life and for sticking with me through all these years of bar gigs, broken-down vehicles, stranger’s couches and what-have-you. I’d also like to thank the guest musicians on this record for lending their tremendous abilities to this project.

A special thanks to Steve Bernstein for believing in me and making it all happen.

These people have also been extremely helpful and deserving of our thanks along the way (in no particular order):

Lee Townsend, Adam Munoz, Jon Schwartz, Ross Elliot, Jeremy Backoff, Josh Baron, Wes Orshoski, the entire staff of Relix Magazine, Martin Greenwald, George Steele III, Burgess Wilson and all the folks at Image Entertainment, Greg Calbi, Greg Kessler, Jason Olaine, Giles Harris, Roger Cramer, Malcolm Holcombe, Katokim, Matt Stein, Chris Gray, Gintas Janusonis, Levon Helm, Janek Gwisdala, Smith Family, Rubin Family, Soler Family, Reynolds Family, Djordjevic Family, Liz, Jenny, Nora, Julia, Svetlana, Dan Mechanic, Salva, Edward Jahn, Garth and Maud Hudson, Tony Wilson, Queva Lutz, Dave Lapoint, Nathan James, Kevin McMahon, Vasilye @ Black Creek Guitars, Oliver Straus, Quico Pi de la Serra

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