Review: Jonathan Seet "The End Of The Beginning" [EP]

Canadian Jonathan Seet, one time bassist for Luke Jackson (review here), has released a new CD of arty Brit pop called "The End Of The Beginning". These 8 tracks make for a consistent listen and, along with his previous releases, lend support to his importance as an evolving songwriter.

The core songwriting themes explored on this EP are "redemption, re-invention, and the replenishing of innocence". With a voice somewhere between Dan Wilson (Semisonic) and David Mead, Seet is perfectly suited for sending these soothing melodies into your ears. "If The Last Kiss Made You Cry" is my favorite in the batch, but you are not doing yourself any favors by skipping over the somber title track and the epic "Down By The Bay", which builds slow to a hair-raising climax. "The Lost Week" is also a pleasant track, with acoustic guitars accompanied by keys from the 70s.

Seet will satiate fans of sophisticated pop with this one; those who need more instant gratification may not appreciate it until the third spin or so. Recommended if you like Radiohead, Elbow, or Travis. Note this is a digital only release - available on iTUNES.

Jonathan Seet on MySpace. Official site.

Review: Luke Jackson “…And Then Some” - Free mp3

Straight out of his right hemisphere, “…And Then Some” is the new release from Luke Jackson that will have your head swirling with pure pop rock goodness. It all began with Luke pondering the question, “WHY NOT make an album with my favourite musicians on the planet?” Why not indeed. If the results sound this good every time, then every artist should begin their project pondering this question.

I detect a lot of Merrymakers, Roxette, and even Abba throughout this collection of flawless pop tunes – perhaps due to the fact they were recorded in Sweden; or just as likely, my mind was biased to hear such influences since I knew it was recorded in Sweden! At any rate, what I am trying to say is that Luke Jackson has put out a record that power pop fans sharing my taste in music are going to adore.

The sleek packaging and extensive linear notes accompanying the CD speak to the perfectionism that Luke strives for – his goal is to get everything right, down to the last detail. This philosophy extends into his music of course and the results speak for themselves. “Come Tomorrow” (available below as a free mp3 for a limited time) is a perfect example of the type of music you’ll find on this excellent release. With an instantly catchy chorus and plenty of oohs and aahs backing things up, this track hits all the right buttons…and then some. And there is much more where that came from. “Half A World Away” and “Longest Day” are additional standouts with an upbeat and peppy vibe, with memorable melodies and sweet harmonies. The more contemplative “This Life” and “The Fear” are outstanding, showcasing the brilliant mix between pop sensibilities combined with expertly executed orchestration. “Let go of the things you know you’ll never control, you got to lose the fear or it’ll eat you whole”.

Fans of Bleu, E.L.O. / Jeff Lynne, Owsley, or Swedish power pop must check out Luke Jackson.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 10

!Check out a FREE mp3 of “Come Tomorrow” courtesy of Luke. Hurry – link expires in one week!

Luke Jackson on MySpace. Official site.

UPDATE:
The video for “Come Tomorrow” is now on YouTube: