"I grew up my father's daughter / he said don't take no shit from no one" is the first line of newcomer Jade Jackson's record Gilded. It's a bold and defining statement that concisely describes the Anti Records artist's debut album. This album is a musical storybook, each song telling a specific story, all connecting to the overarching theme of being strong in the face of adversity and learning how to love. From start to finish, Gilded is full of hope, loss and self-discovery.
The album was heavily inspired by Lucinda Williams’s Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, and before creating Gilded, Jackson's producer Mike Ness made her study Williams's record. As a result, Jackson's vocal delivery and production are similar to Williams's. But where Williams goes more rock, Jackson goes more punk, reflecting her early influences like The Cure and The Smiths.
Some additional parallels could be drawn between Jackson and Aubrie Sellers. Sellers put out her dark and rocky New City Blues at the beginning of 2016, breaking country's rules with her fully electric record. Jackson does the same, but in a lyrical sense rather than a production standpoint. Her lyrics are direct and to the point, revealing a raw and honest perspective like what can be found on a Chris Stapleton or Jason Isbell record.
"I'd shoot out the sun if I had someone to walk in the dark with," is the first lyric of one of the most striking tracks on the record, "Bridges." But this kind of lyric isn't a one off on Gilded. This kind of powerful lyric can be found all over this record, in all different forms. Jackson has the uncanny ability to turn a common feeling into words that we wouldn't use to describe that emotion, but manages to perfectly capture it.
Some additional parallels could be drawn between Jackson and Aubrie Sellers. Sellers put out her dark and rocky New City Blues at the beginning of 2016, breaking country's rules with her fully electric record. Jackson does the same, but in a lyrical sense rather than a production standpoint. Her lyrics are direct and to the point, revealing a raw and honest perspective like what can be found on a Chris Stapleton or Jason Isbell record.
"I'd shoot out the sun if I had someone to walk in the dark with," is the first lyric of one of the most striking tracks on the record, "Bridges." But this kind of lyric isn't a one off on Gilded. This kind of powerful lyric can be found all over this record, in all different forms. Jackson has the uncanny ability to turn a common feeling into words that we wouldn't use to describe that emotion, but manages to perfectly capture it.
Images courtesy Brian Foyster.
Also like Sellers's record, this is an album to spend time on. You can turn on the radio and instantly find a catchy pop song that will be stuck in your head for days. In contrast, this record is different in that it takes a couple listens to fully appreciate it. It's so different from anything else out there today, but that time it takes to appreciate also makes the record much more lasting. The marriage of Jackson's rockier vocals and the more traditional country background weave together a sound that is unlike anything else. The specificity of this sound is so Jade Jackson, that in twenty years we'll be much more likely to remember an album like this than an album like Kelsea Ballerini's The First Time.
Country music is about storytelling at its core. Lyrics are the root of every great country song, and they're the reason that people have been falling in love with this genre ever since before Johnny Cash. But mainstream country music doesn't hold true to that formula. Country music can be fun, but it's about the lyrics. It's about telling real stories about real people, and about fans being able to find themselves in these songs.
Jackson's record is a record full of stories. Each song is it's own specific chapter of her full story, telling a little snippet of her life or of something she's experienced, and often these stories are things the audience has experienced as well. The sounds of this record are not pure country, often edging off into the rock, punk or alternative genre. But if you're looking for some true country lyrics, you can find them on Gilded.
Best tracks: Bridges, Motorcycle, Gilded
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 ½ crowns
Country music is about storytelling at its core. Lyrics are the root of every great country song, and they're the reason that people have been falling in love with this genre ever since before Johnny Cash. But mainstream country music doesn't hold true to that formula. Country music can be fun, but it's about the lyrics. It's about telling real stories about real people, and about fans being able to find themselves in these songs.
Jackson's record is a record full of stories. Each song is it's own specific chapter of her full story, telling a little snippet of her life or of something she's experienced, and often these stories are things the audience has experienced as well. The sounds of this record are not pure country, often edging off into the rock, punk or alternative genre. But if you're looking for some true country lyrics, you can find them on Gilded.
Best tracks: Bridges, Motorcycle, Gilded
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 ½ crowns
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