Description
The self-titled, fourth and final studio album by the American rock band Jacob’s Trouble was released on Frontline Records in May 1993.
While their previous album Let the Truth Run Wild was kind of a transitional album which retained the band’s intrinsic tunefulness while trading their previous Britpop jangle for an earthier, yet equally upbeat, folk-meets-rockabilly groove, by this time the group had all but forsaken the sunny, melodic ditties of the first three efforts in favor of a more aggressive, alt-rock-inspired musical aesthetic and correspondingly darker lyrical themes.
Dynamite. My favourite album so far this year – and of course it’s not new, only new to the UK through Kingsway’s convoluted deal via Spark Music which brings old Frontline albums to some UK bookstores. A blitzing energetic mix of non-stop rhythms, grooves and searing guitar solos that blend the occasional organ, blues sax and industrial noise to some simply atomic percussion and footstomping, shout along vocals. And to think this band started off doing ’60’s throwback’ things on their first album. ‘Jacob’s Trouble’ is full of instrumental, lyrical and production surprises that leave you saying “Yes!” at every turn. These twelve meaty tracks may not comprise a classic album but I’d recommend anyone to grab a hold of ‘Jacob’s Trouble’ and wrestle ’em through til dawn. [Jonathan Bellamy, Cross Rhythms, April 1994]
The main criticism of J.T. has always been that the group seemed hopelessly mired in a Beatles/Byrds/Monkees-influence and was unable to shake constant comparisons to Daniel Amos. That approach reached its logical conclusion on the group’s previous album, ‘Let the Truth Run Wild‘, which was completely soaked in the ’60s, down to the ersatz Capitol Records swirl imprinted on the CDs. There were only two places the band could go from there, and since there isn’t yet a demand for Christian oldies acts in Vegas, the band to the high road and re-invented itself in a more modern image.
J.T. flaunts its changes with a slice of ’70s power pop called «Wild, Wild Ride». The opening line, “Is everybody here ready for a little adventure?,” is as much a challenge to the band to make some fresh noise as it is an invitation to fans to come along on the trip. The tune is a real blast, although the self-referential puns (“We’re kicking down the door into summer/ Gonna knock the breath out of the shine/ Gonna let the truth run even wilder this time”) are a bit over the top. That immediately segues into «Lovehouse», a slice of INXS-styled funk which guitarist Keith Johnston layers with distorted rhythm and wah-wah licks. A slight tip ‘o the hat is also made to The Beatles’ «Magical Mystery Tour» on the bridge – “I’ve got an invitation…”
J.T. finally reaches the ’90s in the album’s third track, a Johnston original titled «Desireé», which evokes the guitar-heavy alternative sound dozens of bands are playing on your local modern rock FM station. Although Johnston is not an especially strong vocalist, his heavily-processed guitar solos are impressive, as is his lyric, based on several scriptures from Proverbs. That dovetails nicely with Davison’s «This Moment», an admonition of “seize the day” and not ignore life’s possibilities, including the offer of everlasting life. «It’s a Boy’s, Boy’s, Boy’s, Boy’s, Boy’s World» is a nod and a wink to Daniel Amos’ continued influence, both in Davison’s vocal inflections, and the slightly sardonic lyrical approach, which finds the singer pealing off chorus after chorus aimed at “rich boys, lost boys, beach boys, playboys, good ole boys, mama’s boys,” etc.
Davison keep things ticking with «Time Bomb». Over an itchy rhythm guitar and rubbery bass groove, he cautions us all (himself first) that disaster is imminent when all our secret sins are revealed, but God can defuse that explosion. Johnston’s «Better Days» follows, and again, it’s the harmonies and band performances that make the song outstanding. Drummer Ron Cochran gets his “Ringo” spotlight, and acquits himself nicely. He turns Smokey Robinson’s «Tears of a Clown» rhythm inside out and melds it with Revolver-style riffs to create «Tears of an Angel», which features what’s probably the best non-Davison lyric. But a surprisingly dark, hard rocker titled «Way of the Cross», is the album’s shining jewel, as it firmly places J.T. in the here and now musically, with its slicing hooks and raw, imposing Davison vocal. He delivers lines like “He told the self-righteous grown-ups they had to act like a child” and “Jesus was killed on a cross of wood/ The king of the Jews, like an ordinary hood – it was no accident” with a conviction and authority not previously evident in his singing. That one track affirms the suspicion that Jacob’s Trouble is capable of making wholly original music and seems to indicate that its musical shift was a wise decision. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, May 1993]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/jacobs-trouble/387935248)
CD tracklist:
01. Wild, Wild Ride – 4:52
02. Lovehouse – 4:13
03. Desire – 3:26
04. This Moment – 4:07
05. It’s A Boy’s, Boy’s, Boy’s, Boy’s World – 3:35
06. Best Part Of Me – 3:52
07. Time Bomb – 4:03
08. Better Days – 5:21
09. Tears Of An Angel – 3:23
10. Lovin’ Kindness – 3:13
11. Way Of The Cross – 3:53
12. Let Me Love On You – 4:38
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Frontline Records.
“Lovehouse” (2008 edit)
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