Jesse
Parent – This Uncertainty (Independent)
From Kitchener, Ontario, Jesse Parent describes
himself as a “true-blue, Canadiana roots performer”. A regular presence on his
local scene, he’s a renowned performer, happy to play his music anywhere he
can, from dank basement bars to festival stages, and all those experiences pay
off on a sophomore collection that sounds simultaneously lived in and loose,
yet toned to perfection.
Live, he likes to keep things simple and acoustic,
but he launches “This Uncertainty” with the full-on rocker “Make U Want It”.
Electric guitars carve out a shameless rock riff and Parent sings his song in a
voice that falls somewhere between Matthew Sweet and Billy Corgan. The mix of
folk influences, blues, roots and rock isn’t always an easy sound to pull off,
but Parent cleverly changes the emphasis with each song, keeping things fresh
and exciting, and the first-time listener never quite knows what’s coming next.
He follows the opening track with the harmonica-led
roots-rocker “Reason to My Rhyme” and by the time the power-pop crunch of the
title-track arrives, Parent’s on quite a roll. “Not Loving You” slows things
right down – before the band kick in - and exposes a sensitive side, which he
handles perceptively and avoids any potential soppiness. Best of all is “So Far”. Mostly acoustic, a wandering keyboard adds
depth and a muscular guitar solo soars.
Phil S.
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