Coming off of their debut Lip from 2001, Jordan's Wake has produced a second release, an EP of sorts that should garner the band some notice.
The musical style of Jordan's Wake is difficult to nail down. They are independent, but there are definitely some mainstream influences. The vocals of Luke Sheets are different than any recent bands that come to mind, providing a unique starting point for the band's sound. Basically on this album there is laid back, soulful rock and roll that should be accessible to many people.
Four of the tracks on The Best I've Disappointed are new to this album. The four songs at the end of the CD are new mixes of four of the best songs from Lip.
The brand new tracks are sometimes good and sometimes not so good. The lead off song "Come Around" sounds independent in production value and never truly puts its hook into the listener. The following "California Sun", however, does the trick. The group chorus quickly draws the listener's attention and gives the rest of the album a chance to prove its worth. All told, "Too Late to Forget" ends up being the best new song with its heartfelt lyrics and slow music that just sounds right. "Happy" is a bit cliché and easily lands in the "forgettable songs" list.
All of the re-released songs from Lip here are good, and even better than their original versions. "Walk Away" and "Perfect Better" are a bit more upbeat, while "Under Blue" and "Mouthful" hold the best chance of snagging the heartstrings.
The Best I've Disappointed shows that Jordan's Wake has some potential to work with. Hopefully their next release will be a full-length that cuts out the cliché, unneeded tracks. When that CD comes, the band should find a good fan base.
3.5 tocks
