Posted on: June 17, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

“Jonah” is a good place to start with Jimmy Reeves. The track needs little more than an acoustic guitar to paint a perfect backdrop for Reeves’s vocals to flitter over. The emotional content of Reeves’ lyrics here are similar to the work of the Goo Goo Dolls, Collective Soul, but vary from those two acts in the presence of a slight bit of Thom Yorke in the overall mix. What thus results with “Jonah” is a thoughtful track that will play at listeners’ heartstrings until the vocals drop out. The title track to “The Axe and The Tree” starts out powerfully, with a stomping bit of percussion; this stomping enters in and out of the equation while Reeves creates something that deftly blends together The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and even Bright Eyes into a delightful bit of indie-rock that hides a harder edge.

The use of a number of styles and influences at different points during “The Axe and The Tree” shows listeners Reeves’ virtuosity as an artist, as he will move from fast to slow, rock to shoegazer, all in the space of just a few seconds. Reeves’ skill is further shown by the fact that he makes this eclectic set of sounds into a cohesive track that works in the larger context of the EP. “Your Love Is A Precious Thing” is Spartan in the same way as “Jonah”, but the shift of Reeves into a more Rufus Wainwright style further provides listeners with the proof that Reeves has boundless talent and the chops to back it up.

“Broken Glass Windows” glues together the two different styles previously heard by listeners on “The Axe and The Tree” with a similar set of shifts that, while not as many in number, are still noticeable during the track. The emotional intensity of Reeves during “The Axe and The Tree” will garner him a number of listeners; do yourself a favor and pick up this album on iTunes, check out his Myspace, and show him that individuals in Ohio, Wyoming, and even foreign countries are fan of this timeless and brilliant music. Each of the six cuts on “The Axe and The Tree” could conceivably make it onto radio rotation, and I have a feeling that one (or more) of the tracks on this EP will do just that.

Top Tracks: Ameriquality, Jonah

Rating: 8.0/10

Jimmy Reeves – The Axe and The Tree / 2008 Self / 6 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/jimmyreevesmusic /

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