JACKSON - PEN-PAL (EP) DOWNLOAD DIGITAL COPY FOR FREE OR FOR PAY HERE! Pen Pal's introduction, 'Rain Day', is a true explosion. Jackson shows a diverse range of colors, and interrogates the listeners. 'Are you thirsty for truth, or do you crave bullshit?' Well, we thought not. The track, with all its changes and screaming and multilayered spoken word serves as a wake-up call. How prepared we feel to arrive at 'Was It Winnie', a song that is weighted with emotion. Perhaps it is the smooth guitar vibrato, but more likely it's the genuine vocal delivery, both dramatic and clear, that sends chills down the spine. Between this and 'Rain Day', it seems we cover the two ends of Jackson's dynamic - screaming social provocateur and passionate and honest lover. Of course then we get a bit more playful, the joker in Jackson, giving us a round of puns in both 'Playground Sweethearts' and 'The Poppyseed Accord.' The energy carries throughout the album in these songs, as Jackson switches from the dozens of characters in 'Rain Day' and switches to a new one for these songs. For instance, who is this Barry White character in 'The Poppyseed Accord'? The Barry White in Jackson? However comic, it still seems genuine, and fits perfectly for the song. Then a pause, in 'ReReunionUnion'. Something of spoken word, the poet and extremely articulate and perceptive Jackson... quickly followed by 'Breakfast in Bed,' featuring the addictive voice of Amelia Meath. This interlude is really more like a smear of a very bright color, a cleansing of the palette. (Perhaps a clove of garlic?) Once 'Cutlery' arrives, it seems that all previous songs were leading up to this. It also seems like some continuation of 'Rain Day', effectively sandwiching the album with the musical equivalent of action movies. 'Cutlery' appears here as a sensitive and balanced recording of a hummable Jackson classic. Of course, being an EP, it's a bit short. It feels like there are a lot more characters and layers left to be exposed. Luckily, Jackson will be releasing this with Extended Play, an EP made a few months earlier. Stream and download this album here. Rain Day 1 |