ALBUM REVIEW: ONE OF US
Abby Weidman , Contributer
Album: One Of Us
Artist: James Barker Band
Label: Universal Music Canada Inc.
Grade: A
On Sept. 5, James Barker Band released their second studio album, One Of Us, and kicked off their tour just a couple weeks later on Sept. 18. They’ll be making stops across Canada until the end of November, bringing new music to fans across the country.
The James Barker Band fully leans into that small town feel in this album, with subjects of neon lights, late night drives, love, and heartbreak. Compared to their first album, Game On, they’ve added a lot more depth. The band has definitely grown with their storytelling, and it is visible with the way they build up each song around a moment.
One of the tracks that stood out to me is “Love On You.” It’s got a cool mix of 60’s inspired sound and new modern country. The song tells a bittersweet story of letting go and watching someone you once loved fall for someone new. The guitar solo near the end adds an unexpected twist that really brings the whole thing together.
What really stands out to me with this album is how present the instruments are. It seems that with current country music, instruments tend to be downplayed, so it’s nice to hear them lead the way in the majority of the tracks on this album.
