Lawrence.com

Comments

Lawrence.com does not necessarily agree with comments posted below - responsibility lies with the relevant user alone. Read our full policy.

1. 

   gilakos (anonymous) says…

   as the title of their album suggests, ok jones is precisely middle town. their music could be playing in middletown america somewhere, say lawrence... perhaps. it could be clever gibe about their proximity to the geographic center of the us or a comment about the ambiguity of their position within the musical landscape. or all of the above.
   middletown, the album by the local band, ok jones, achieves a degree of excellence in its ambiguity. it measures a spoonful of twang whipped with a pinch of rock to bake an excellent cake. the album tells the mostly melancholic story of average joe, at least joe who seems to have a lot of girl trouble and a testy automobile. or is it the other way around? regardless, i dont know any joes without these problems. i do know that for the most part, ok jones successfully mixes pace and subject over the course of ten songs while negotiating the fine line between rock and country. beyond lables and genre differences, the band shows an honest irony in songs like "don't call back" and a flare for the comedic in the previous kazoo laced track "other side of town."
   like any band, i would recommend a live show over an album, but middletown preserves the band's intelligent and emotional lyric content with hand made melodic texture. i recommend this album to everyone, from extreme music enthusiasts to casual listeners. the album's ambiguities lend themselves to appealing to a wide audience. ok jones is a great local band with a lot to offer. if you are able to get your hands on this album take 40 minutes of your time and enjoy it and keep an ear open for a funny stetson hat reference.

   September 30, 2004 at 7:27 p.m.

   • permalink
   • reply
   • suggest removal