This article contains too many or overly lengthy quotations for an encyclopedic entry.(December 2020) |
Misfit's Jubilee | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 30, 2020 | |||
Studio | Studio Caporal | |||
Genre | Alternative country | |||
Length | 45:19 | |||
Label | Fluff & Gravy (US), Loose Music (Europe and the UK) | |||
Jim White chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metro | (October 30, 2020, p.22) |
Mojo | link |
Peterborough Telegraph | (October 20, 2020, p.49) |
Spectrum Culture | link |
Uncut | link |
Misfit's Jubilee is an album by Jim White released in 2020. U.S. record label Fluff & Gravy hyped the release stating that "The ever-elusive Americana maverick Jim White returns with his most upbeat, hallucinogenic record to date" [1] while European and U.K. label Loose Music touted that the album was "Quickly being recognised as his most intriguing and unruly album to date ... a scrapbook of ideas, images, colours and sounds gathered over White's illustrious career, bound together to form his latest studio album." [2] Notably, Indie Music reviewers tended to agree with the assessments of White's record labels and the album received overall favorable reviews, with comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Chicks, Neil Young, the Go-Go's, and the Violent Femmes. [3] [4]
Critic David Schuster summarized that White " . . . is someone with something interesting to say, based on a wealth of gritty experience, and it's going to be said with a sprinkling of humour. That in a nutshell is Misfit's Jubilee, his eighth studio album," comparing the album to a " . . . road trip across one of the southern states . . . " and proclaiming the album "pure Americana, rooted in the same influences as Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited and Johnny Cash's last, great album in his lifetime, When the Man Comes Around." The same critic stated that " . . . White has evolved country-folk into something far quirkier and given it an edge." [5] White, himself, referred to the album as "sonic Kool aid." [6] A review in British newspaper, METRO, called White's effort "baroque cowpunk" with a "faux-naiveté" highlighting that "His favorite subject remains, as ever, the joys and the alarms found in the cracks of human imperfection." The review notes that "Each song is a study in how a wayward or broken life - and of this he presumably has wide experience - can deliver wisdom or beauty in its own curious way," with stories from White's own adventures. One gets the feeling that it doesn't matter whether the stories in the songs are real or fabricated for purposes of entertainment or something grander, like figuring out the meaning of life. [7]
Another critique by Justin Cober-Lake noted that "White likes to keep his listeners off balance, and he comfortably does so through odd characters, surprising lyrical moments, or sonic oddities" in the perfect contemporary setting where "As society collapses, even the misfits can't truly celebrate, but they can see a little extra from their outsider status." The critic summarizes that White doesn't tell the listener what to conclude about the journey of life but that he paints a picture to think on and draw conclusions. [8] The Journal of Roots Music offered a similar review, calling White's work "A cross between a hysterical lunatic and a road-weary sage, Jim White really lets loose on the electrifying Misfit's Jubilee, the latest installment in his ongoing quest to make sense of reality in all its dazzling weirdness" and labeling the album as "soul searching" "southern gothic" in which " . . . Jim White has created the perfect soundtrack for this absurd modern world." [9]
Beyond the psyche of White, the album is reflective of the political atmosphere of the U.S. in general in 2020. A promotional video for the song "The Divided States Of America" was released October 21, 2020 on Jim White's YouTube channel. [10] White stated in the comments of the video that "What you got here is your basic semi-psychotic music video featuring the final song on this next record of mine, called Misfit's Jubilee. At this moment in our collective history it makes sense that voices normally content to remain silent should be lifted in outrage, howling, exhorting our minds and hearts to focus on a singular goal---higher ground for all, not just the rich folks." The album ends with the song, and White noted in the video post that "My sincere prayer is that my fellow Americans will wake up and once more hunger for a kinder, saner compass, one that'll lead us back to the pursuit of nobler intentions, ideals of freedom and fairness that were once our theoretical guideposts as a people."
In addition to the promotional video for "The Divided States Of America" the album and its songs were promoted by the record labels and White on social media, Facebook in particular. Loose Music posted a month before the album was released that "Jim White is back with "Smart Ass Reply", the second single taken from his brilliant upcoming album "Misfit's Jubilee", out 30 October." [11] Although some may view the album artwork for the digital single as a childish abstraction, one reviewer characterized the song as being " . . . intellectual without being pretentious, street-level without pandering, and a powerful reminder of his particular genius." [12] The critic went on to blame "Jesus and Alice Cooper" for the song popping out and reviving a rebellious spirit in him[White] from years earlier, when he was a Southern religious Jesus Freak that secretly listened to Alice Cooper.
Earlier promotion included the first advance single for the album, "Sum Of What We Have Been," which was released in the publication Americana Highway, and announced via a social media post from White. [13] The article on the premiere of "Sum of What We Have Been" notes that "Jim White fans will be happily amazed at the joyfulness in this song" and quoted White stating that "I'm known for my sorrowful story songs so I'm stumped about how this one came to be." [14]
One review of the album states that while " . . . his latest album creates a stir by assembling a series of tracks that the major labels rejected in their desire to make him accessible," "White is willfully expressing his own views, unafraid of the consequences." [15] "Many songs were written at different times over the years but never fit with the other material on the records White released back then. White recorded these tracks at Studio Caporal in Antwerp, Belgium, with drummer Marlon Patton, Geert Hellings on banjo and guitar, and Nicolas Rombouts on bass and keyboards." [16] Although the record is a mix of songs written throughout the expanse of his career, they were all recorded for this album as a cohesive collection and " . . . White's constructions seem purposely antiquated to show the shallowness of contemporary life." [16]
In addition to spending years crafting the album's lyrics and music, White also worked diligently to make the album a reality, financially. Album liner notes indicate partial funding for the album was provided by "Flemish Government State of the Arts" while White also launched what was titled "Another Weird Jim White Crowdfunding Offer" on Indiegogo to help him fund the album. White used the campaign to sell an assortment of memorabilia in exchange for donations to fund the project. The album was released digitally (on various platforms) and sold in physical formats through Bandcamp on CD, black vinyl LP record, and a limited edition "psychedelic" blue/yellow marbled vinyl LP (only 100 copies pressed). [17] White created much of the promotional artwork for the album cover, promotional singles, and a Misfit's themed t-shirt offered on his website.
All tracks by Jim White
Engineered by Nicolas Rombouts, Marlon Patton, and Jim White
Mixed and mastered by John Keane
The Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the pioneers of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. The group was founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist Glenn Danzig, and drummer Manny Martínez. Jerry Only joined on bass guitar shortly after. Over the next six years, membership would change frequently with Danzig and Only remaining the two sole consistent members. During this time period, they released several EPs and singles, and with Only's brother Doyle as guitarist, the albums Walk Among Us (1982) and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (1983), both considered to have significance to the early-1980s hardcore punk movement. The band has gone through many lineup changes over the years, with bassist Jerry Only being the only constant member in the group.
Danzig is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Danzig, released in August 1988. The album was the first release on producer Rick Rubin's new label Def American Recordings. Def American's successor, American Recordings, reissued the album in the United States and United Kingdom in 1998. It remains the band's best-selling album having been certified gold in the U.S. in 1994, and has since been certified platinum. Danzig promoted the album with a successful world tour in 1988–1989.
Half Hour of Power is the debut extended play by Canadian rock band Sum 41. It was released on June 27, 2000 on Big Rig Records, a subsidiary of Island Records, and Aquarius Records (Canada). The cover features the band's then-drummer Steve Jocz aiming a Nerf gun up in the air and standing in front of an explosion in the background. Though officially an EP, Half Hour of Power may also be considered the band's debut studio album. Most of the songs featured on the EP were included as bonus tracks on Sum 41's actual debut studio album All Killer No Filler, which featured a re-recorded version of Half Hour of Power's sixth track "Summer". This is the second of three times that this song was featured on a Sum 41 album. It first appeared on their 1998 demo tape. The group originally planned to include different versions of the song on each of their albums as a joke, but scrapped the idea after All Killer No Filler, as they felt that it would annoy their fanbase.
"Bullet" is the second single released by the horror punk band the Misfits. The four tracks comprising the EP were recorded, along with thirteen others, in early 1978 for the proposed Static Age album. When the band could not find a record label to release the album, they instead released four of the songs as "Bullet" on singer Glenn Danzig's label Plan 9 Records. The songs were re-released in different versions over subsequent years, until Static Age was finally released in its entirety in 1996.
Marlon David Jackson is an American entertainer, singer and dancer best known as a member of the Jackson 5. He is the sixth child of the Jackson family. Marlon now runs Study Peace Foundation to promote peace and unity worldwide.
Son Volt is an American rock band formed in 1994 by Jay Farrar after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo. The band's current line-up consists of Farrar, Andrew DuPlantis, John Horton (guitar), Mark Patterson (drums), and Mark Spencer. In addition to playing alternative rock, the band is considered a staple of the alternative country rock movement of the 1990s. The band's sound also is rooted in folk rock and Americana.
"Hum Along and Dance" is a soul song written for the Motown label by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Originally recorded by the Temptations, the song was later covered by Motown acts Rare Earth and the Jackson 5. The song is essentially an instrumental piece and a vehicle for scatting and improvisational vocals, since, as the chorus states, "ain't no words to this song/you just dance and hum along". All three versions of the song were produced by Whitfield.
Michael Davis Pratt, known professionally as Jim White, is an American singer-songwriter, visual artist and author.
Misfits is a 1986 compilation album by the American punk rock band Misfits. Officially titled Misfits, but also known as Collection, Collection 1, or Collection I, the album features twenty songs by the band. The tracks include some of the group's early singles, as well as songs from their 1982 album Walk Among Us, their 1983 album Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood, and the 1985 compilation album Legacy of Brutality, which was curated exclusively by vocalist Glenn Danzig after the band had dissolved in 1983.
Get Smart! is a three-piece post-punk band formed in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1980 consisting of Marcus Koch, Lisa Wertman Crowe and Frank Loose. The band released 2 studio albums along with some singles and EPs over a 10-year career. The band re-united in 2020.
"Die, Die My Darling" is a song by the American horror punk band Misfits. It was released in May 1984 on singer Glenn Danzig's label, Plan 9 Records, seven months after the band's breakup. The song is titled after the 1965 horror film Fanatic, which had been released in the United States under the title Die! Die! My Darling! The cover of the single is derived from the cover of the September 1953 issue number 19 of the comic book Chamber of Chills. The back cover artwork was created by artist Pushead.
"Scream" is the ninth single by the horror punk band the Misfits, and the first single released from their 1999 album Famous Monsters. The music video for the song was directed by George A. Romero, famous for his Living Dead series of zombie films.
"I Wanna Be a NY Ranger" is the eighth single by American horror punk band Misfits. It was written by John Cafiero and originally intended to be performed by the Ramones for a promotional campaign for the New York Rangers and Madison Square Garden. However, the Ramones retired in 1996 and Cafiero instead presented the song to the Misfits, who recorded it with Cafiero singing lead vocals. A condensed 30-second version with then-Misfits singer Michale Graves on vocals appeared later that year on the Short Music for Short People compilation.
Carl Broemel is an American rock musician. He currently plays guitar, pedal steel guitar, saxophone and sings back-up vocals for the Louisville, Kentucky band My Morning Jacket. He played guitar in the pop/rock band Old Pike and in the alternative pop/rock band Silvercrush.
Action Reaction is the debut album by American Post-punk band Get Smart!, released on Enigma Records' "Fever" imprint in 1984.
Dave Hause is an American singer-songwriter. He currently performs both solo and with his band The Mermaid. His music draws from heartland rock, folk rock and punk rock. He has also played in multiple Philadelphia, PA area punk and hardcore bands, including The Loved Ones and The Falcon.
Cackalack is a 2010 studio album by Americana singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd. The title is a variation of the word "Cackalacky", a popular nickname for the Carolinas and the songs all connect to the culture and music of Byrd's home state of North Carolina. The album was recorded in a single day with a group of musicians, including members of Creaking Tree String Quartet.
What Were You Hoping For? is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Van Hunt. It was released on September 27, 2011, by his independent label Godless Hotspot in a joint venture with distributor Thirty Tigers.
Where It Hits You is the 2012 album, and 6th solo studio project, by Southern American singer-songwriter and guitarist Jim White. The album was mixed and mastered by John Keane. Guest vocalists on the album include members of the bands Ollabelle, Shak Nasti, and The Heap. There are several guest musicians that helped craft the distinctive and full Alternative Country sound typical of White's productions. The effort and collaboration seems to have been worthwhile, as the album has received numerous favorable critical reviews, just missing the top ten on Exclaim!'s Best Albums of 2012: Folk and Country.
These Same Skies is 27th live album by Australian worship group Hillsong Worship. The album was released on November 5, 2021, by Hillsong Music and Capitol CMG. The album features appearances by Benjamin Hastings, Mi-kaisha Rose, Reuben Morgan, Brooke Ligertwood, Aodhan King, and Saye Pratt. Production was handled by Brooke Ligertwood and Michael Guy Chislett.