Review: JW-Jones ‘Everything Now’
By Mike O’Cull
Award-winning Canadian roots music guitarist and songwriter JW-Jones blends the old with the new and creates a lively, contemporary sound on his new record Everything Now.
The new platter comes out May 26th, 2023 on Solid Blues Records, distributed by Stony Plain. The sessions happened in Austin, Texas with the multi-platinum Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar) producing and in Ottawa, Canada with producer Eric Eggleston. Special guests on Everything Now include Texas blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, The Texas Horns, Rob McNelley, Stanton Moore, and Aaron Sterling.
JW wrote the entire album with fellow Canadian legends Johnson and Dick Cooper and firmly believes in the merit of the new material. “I am incredibly proud of these songs, and this music,” says Jones. “It is 100% original roots and blues with a variety of grooves, feels, and personal lyrics. This is a snapshot of who I am as a person, and where I am as an artist today.”
JW-Jones has received much acclaim in the last few years, both as a solo artist and as part of the Canadian roots band HOROJO Trio. He won Best Guitarist at the 2020 International Blues Challenge and HOROJO Trio won Best Band there, too. He’s a JUNO Award nominee and a Billboard Top Ten Blues artist. He has performed live in 23 countries, sat in with Buddy Guy, and opened for George Thorogood. He’s one of Canada’s top blues and roots acts and has the respect of all the right people.
The opening track of Everything Now is its title song “Everything Now.” It’s an upbeat soul/blues song with a strong chorus and a pop-ish bridge. Master New Orleans drummer Stanton Moore of Galactic contributes a beautiful groove to this bone-shaker and your day will get better the moment you feel it. Jones sings engagingly and puts down more than a few sweet guitar lines, as well.
“Keeping Me Up” is a moody and minor rock song about getting funny vibes from your partner’s sleep talking. It’s a cool, mid-tempo song with a lot of nice guitar work on rhythm and lead. Fans of a certain age will recognize the vintage power pop influence the tune flaunts, combining tight hooks and dirty guitars like genre innovators Cheap Trick and The Knack. It’s a great sound and it’s good to see it being brought back around.
The true-to-life dysfunction of “Papa’s In The Pen” is a giant slice of real-world noir that tells the tale of someone growing up with some pretty sketchy parents. It’s a dramatic song that definitely delivers the goods. The tag line “Mama’s off the rails again and Papa’s in the pen” tells all about how this kid feels and pulls you into his difficult situation. It’s one of the strongest cuts on the album and will linger in your mind.
Texas guitar king Jimmie Vaughan drops in to jam on the rollicking and rolling “Take Your Time.” Vaughn and Jones both light this one up on guitar and sound fully alive playing off of each other. Jimmie is a living legend and he sounds as amazing as ever here. Like the whole album, this is a well-written tune that hits its target and will quickly get lodged in your playlists. Jones definitely has the touch.
The mellow “When You Left” features The Texas Horns, which is always good news. The track is an honest, soulful ballad dealing with love’s demise and Jones relates the story of a sudden breakup with genuine emotion. The Texas Horns ice the cake of the arrangement and make this another unforgettable selection.
JW-Jones steps out big-time on Everything Now and the set is going to do a lot to raise his already-high profile. He has that ideal balance between being a guitar guy and a singer-songwriter that so many others fail to achieve. Each note and word is in the right place and you’ll want to listen to every song. Highly recommended.
Pre-order link for Everything Now see here
JW-Jones Trailer see here
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