Verdict: Indie Rock for adults
More info: www.jebomusic.co.uk
Jebo are an English band that I first came across in 2004 when I reviewed their demo EP. In 2006 the band have released this, their debut album.
Much of the coverage that Jebo have received has been within the progressive rock music press. Whilst this may be the area where the band's roots are, they are in fact more of a mainstream pop rock act. The vocals of James Hollingsworth do possess certain 'prog' characteristics, but would also be at home with many of today's indie rock acts. Musically also, there seems little separating Jebo from indie acts such as Coldplay, Snow Patrol and others who have enjoyed chart success in the past couple of years.
The album starts of with the title track which reminds me of Deacon Blue. Ricky Ross' outfit can also be detected in other tracks such as "Lighthouse", although James' voice has a more melancholy nature evoking thoughts of bands like the Jayhawks. Talking of Americans, singer/songwriter Warren Zevon was the name that popped into my head when listening to "Nohwere Left To Hide". Despite the mention of a couple of American acts Jebo's music has a distinct "English" feel to it. Occassionally little bits of prog do filter through such as on "Threw It Away" which reminded me of Fish era Marillion. Elsewhere the songs are a mixture of pop-rock tracks. As the album progresses, the band hit a peak somewhere around the middle with tracks such as "Lighthouse", "7th Day" and "What Dreams", although there is not a vast delta between these and the other tracks.
So Jebo have created a good debut album that fulfils the promise I heard on that demo EP. I remember thinking the band was difficult to pigeonhole when reviewing that EP and having heard a complete album's worth of material, categorising them isn't any easier. They are closest to Indie Rock, but yet incorporate elements of classic rock. Let's call it "Indie Rock for Adults".
