Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Jake Slater - Humble Digs Volume 2

5/29/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Jake Slater

Humble Digs Volume 2
self-released; 2015

3.6 out of 5

By J Simpson

No genre is perhaps more critically maligned, despite its rampant popularity as jam bands. There's just something in the intersection of rock n’ roll, jazz, extended improvisation and snippets of other styles - like indie and electronica - that people just love to hate. 

This is despite the fact that many Phish- and Deadheads also fawn over early indie/college rock weirdoes like Pavement and Ween, not to mention classics like Steely Dan, Miles Davis and Motown. Perhaps the prejudice comes from the worn-out influence of punk rock with its inherent mistrust of people who know how to play their instruments, write songs or deliver their material in a bright, shiny pop bow. 

These days, however, perhaps the most punk thing you can do is to have your songs heard by the many, in whatever way you can. It's no longer enough to be weird and abrasive for the sake of being "experimental" or "edgy." We've heard it all. We're no longer easily shocked or stunned. 

Humble Digs Volume 2 by Middleboro, MA's Jake Slater, compensates for the bloated prog crimes of many jam-indebted bands, particularly on record, by swathing the instruments in a mellow cocoon of reverb, painting the guitars and vocals in an impressionistic blur that is a welcome respite from the often harsh, dry digital production style that many prog-style bands tend to favor. 

Humble Digs Volume 2 is built around the gentle, swaying strum of Slater's jazz guitar and gentle vocals. The bare skeleton is then cloaked in a flesh of vintage keyboards and saxophone bringing the old school soul jazz and retro electronica vibes, making Humble Digs Volume 2 somewhere between Booker T & The MGs and "Boogie On Reggae Woman." Instrumental virtuosity is on display here in short bursts of flying guitar solos. Slater keeps it minimal and restrained, however, never succumbing to self-indulgence. 

Me, personally, I'm an unashamed Phish and Deadhead, so it's a pleasure to hear jazz-influenced improvisatory rock delivered in an appealing way. Slater possesses the unique combination of knowing what he's trying to say, knowing how to say it eloquently and knowing what his audience wants to hear. This equilibrium will serve Slater well, and any jam band attempting to make a record would do well to take some production notes. 
official website
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band
© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact