Search - Jolene :: Hell's Half Acre

The popular comparison for Jolene's first album is early R.E.M. That might be unfair for Jolene--after all, the Athens boys were never quite this mature-sounding early on, and where Michael Stipe will reach for a falsetto, John Crooke is more likely to settle down into a flat, soulful rumble. Crooke's lyrics are easily distinguished, too, and he definitely has been around the block once or twice: "I could save the world, if given the go-ahead," he sings in "Alongside," before thinking better of it. "Then again, maybe I should save myself instead." But the comparison holds in other ways. Dave Burris does sound distinctly Mills-ian when he contributes backing vocals, and the two bands share the same love for Vic Chesnutt and for layered, subtly energetic melodies. Bill Ladd's consistent pedal steel, and a duet with Kim Richey, only underscore the depth present throughout. It's no surprise that they hail from the same area that spawned both the dBs and Let's Active a couple of revolutions back. --Randy Silver