What strikes me most about this record is the confidence which Jack delivers through his songwriting, production choices, and vocal delivery. There's nothing clichéd here, and there's also not any discernable compromises guaranteed to finally get him out of that beat up Ford van and into a more humane touring vehicle. You can fake the Nashville "terminal illness" sappy songs, and you can fake the "teenage Texas pride angst" songs, but you can't fake what's on ELECTRIC. The writing, recording, and performances are so genuinely authentic yet concurrently honest, they can only come from an artist who's been around the block and loves what he does so much... that you don't have to.
Jack Ingram's talent always takes an audience to a new high. His live performances are legendary; they take on a life o their own, adding a rock edge to honky tonk music. And as rockin' as Jack's music is, he has an undeniable sweetness that comes forth, as he closes a show with a heartfelt ballad. "Electric" offers the listener both extremes: from wild-ass rousing music to the poignant "Good Night Moon", this CD reflects Jack's best and his fans will be eager to listen.
"Electric", a perfect title for this high voltage gem. Jack blurs the line between Rock and Alt Country with his new release due out in June. Ingram pushes his music to the edge on one song then brings us back in with the next. Its this constant shifting that gives "Electric" its pulse as it flows through his most daring CD to date.
The first time I saw Jack Ingram live, he was instantly elevated to first-kiss status. Not literally, but in the sense that I had never heard real music before, and that very first show opened a door for me that has lead to a very deep musical obsession. However, the thing that I saw in Jack that night on stage I never found on his albums--until now. Sure, Hey You was beautifully produced, but that was the problem. It was produced until there was very little Jack left in it. Where Hey You was boring, Electric has the toughness that Jack portrays on stage.
Jack Ingram - "ELECTRIC"
(Sony Nashville / Lucky Dog Records)
From the opening track of "Keep On Keepin' On," I kept hoping that this latest release by the ever so brilliant songwriting of Jack Ingram would get better. I was wrong.
The eagerly awaiting fans anxiously hoping to throw down there hard-earned dollars for this latest release may very well be disappointed from what they hear. And, it's not entirely Jack Ingram to blame. This time out, Jack has bypassed the brilliant work of famed producer, Richard Bennett, and uses two barely-known farmhands to do his producing. That's the bad news. The good news is that there is some really great songwriting found on this latest outing, including "Fool," in which listeners may find this coming thru their car speakers courtesy of country music radio. A wonderfully written song, and it could have easily fit on Jack's previous release, 'Hey You.'
Jack has finally given his true fans something worth waiting for; the inclusion of "Pete, Jesus And Me," although as the song draws closer to the end, it sounds as though evil may have crept into the recording studio as the song takes a nasty turn into grunge. Grunge in alt-country is nothing new, and it has it's place, but not in this song. It's like deliberately heading right into a brick wall.
"Goodnight Moon" is another treat for fans as Jack has closed many a live show with this Will Kimbrough-penned tune for years.
I feel bad for Jack and his fans as they both have been anticipating this release for quite a while. These sound like rough demo quality recordings and it makes me wonder if Lucky Dog Records themselves may have been trying to rush Jack on this release. What a shame.
Jack Ingram is on e of the greatest live performers that you'll ever see and hear. But my advice on this record: pull the plug on this electric mish-mosh.
-Ben Steering, Jezz Blues Media
'ELECTRIC'(Sony Lucky Dog)
Texas singer/songwriter Jack Ingram is one of country music's best hidden talents, though one may not agree after a listen to 'Electric,' Jack's latest release due out in stores on June 4th.
His previous release, 'Hey You,' could easily be written down in alt-country or even traditional country music history as one of the best albums ever. But of course when you have producer Richard Bennett (Steve Earle fame) on board, it's a given that a record is going to be sequenced and sounding like a real record should.
On 'Electric,' producers Liddell and McCarthy fail to shine light on any type of real direction with this record. It's a shame as there are some beautifully written songs such as 'Fool' (destined to be a radio favorite) and 'Pete, Jesus And Me.' "I got so good at hiding / I couldn't find myself" sings Jack on 'One Thing.' And that's an ironic problem here; Jack has gotten so good in the public eye with his music, 'Electric' seems to have him buried where you don't know the real direction that Jack is trying to approach. Another example is the wonderfully written 'Pete, Jesus And Me'; A crowd favorite for years, and the ending sounds as though Mike Landau's Raging Honkies band was asked to come in and play some Jimi-thing near the closing. What a shame.
There are some saving moments on 'Electric' such as 'I won't Go With Her,' bound to be Jack's 2002 trademark concert song, 2nd behind 'Barbie Doll.'
Will Kimbrough's 'Goodnight Moon' is beautifully arranged and produced.
If you've been anticipating 'Electric,' you may be disappointed. Jack needs to find his direction, such as he did with 'Hey You.' 'Electric' sounds like a group of demo songs that really need to be polished up. Now, if Richard Bennett was on board; 'nuff said.
OVERALL: Jack Ingram is one of the best singer/songwriters, ever. If you were a new fan and bought 'Electric,' I'm afraid that there isn't enough mustard on this record to help it make much sense in direction. Sorry, Jack.
I saw Jack Friday night at The Texas Theater in Waxahachie, Texas on Friday night. What a show! I drove for almost four hours to see this show and it was definately worth it. Jack just never disappoints his audiance. Never! This was one of his accoustic shows and while I truly love his band, I love seeing Jack do these shows. He really shines. He has such an entertaining interaction with his audiance and a gift for story telling. He keeps you laughing between songs with his tales of song inspirations and on the road experiences. His musical performance stands on it's own without the band and I think that is a true testement to the mans talent. Not all performers can hold up like that. I have seen some great ones that have tried and they just fall short of being able to stand on their own. NOt Jack. What a performer. I would drive across Texas anytime to see this guy perform.
As for the venue, The Texas Theater has beautiful accoustics and I have never heard Jack and his guitar sound so strong and beautiful together. What can I say, the show was AWESOME!!
Hey 'Electric shorts out'.....are the Producer that got fired or what???? I can't think of anyone that would put so much thought into writing a review of such dismay of the production!!! It's ok DUDE...another artist will pick you up sometime, you don't have to dog the new producers...I think it's great Jack!!
When Jack Ingram's 'Hey You' was released a few years back on Sony's Lucky Dog label, it was one of the most profound, well-written and beautifully arranged albums of all-time. Every song on the album fit into place and the sequence of songs was outstanding! Having Richard Bennett on board as producer was a key in that success.
Now, with the much anticipated release of Jack Ingram's 'Electric,' it's though Jack is lost musically and needs a true producer. Fans would have to agree. One of Jack's most popular in-concert recordings is that of "Pete, Jesus & Me." The recording studio effects of trying to make this song sound old is horrid. Fans have been wanting to hear this song on record for years, and Jack treats it like it's yesterday's news. You can barely hear the vocals at all, which is a shame as it is one of Jack's best songs ever. And the band on this album ... it sounds as though Jack's Beat Up Ford band has finally been beaten up altogether too many times. The blame in this area should go to the producers, who make Jack's overall sound on this record sound too grungy. It makes me think of Bryan Adams when he released 'Waking Up The Neighbours' when his producer was Mutt Lange. Mutt came out making a brilliant Bryan Adams sounding like another up and coming Def Leppard. Same situation with Jack's 'Electric' here. My advice; go back into the studio and re-record these songs. Your fans will be disappointed. I am.
