The self-titled debut album from J. Marshall S. is either a) the most cynical, depressing look at the fallen nature of the world since anything done by Alice in Chains; or b) a lamenting, satirical expression of the worst the world has to offer a la Extreme's Pornograffiti. One thing is clear, however -- this is a breakthrough artist waiting to be discovered by the rest of America -- J. Marshall S. combines elements of prog, blues, and stoner rock to create the best new album I've heard since Any Raw Flesh? by Yogi.
"Every Hit We Take is Heaven" opens the disc, painting a lurid picture of a drug addict, willing to endure the pain involved in getting to their next hit. Musically and vocally, it lies in the realm of Extreme, Yogi, or Layne Staley (Alice in Chains). "Konflicted" is the tale of someone who was once looking for love, who now settles for money and sex. "It's Clover Now" seems to describe Christians who don't stay the course:
...we don't allow the pain
to make us never trust again
tears are shed by crocodiles
who run from their word
while they page through their Bibles
justified they bolt the path
whose resistance is least...
"Tables Were Turning" could be the companion piece musically to Yogi's "My Love for Lois is Real." "Come Share this Light With Me" is a prog piece in the Yes/ELP/Kansas vein, while "Spaceship Crypt" begins with a Ty Tabor sound, then veers off into a completely different direction. "Alpha-Endtime" portrays a man debating between taking vengeance or waiting on God's judgment, with a Living Colour meets Faith No More sound to it.
Spiritual allegory continues through the rest of the album. "Not the Wind the Wind Blows," "Mondo Freak Show," and "Numbers Runner" deal with themes of going with the flow, doing whatever is popular, and ignoring what is right, while "The Many" is even more pointed:
Most choose easy broad ways
the narrow's so slim
and of those who find it some try
but they can't enter in
if all were unfaithful
does that nullify what is right?
This disc is nothing short of brilliant. Sonically, it is everything a fan of Extreme or King's X could want. Lyrically, it details a bleak picture of what our world has become, and seemingly points the way to the only solution. A very, very fine debut.
4.5 tocks
