Jared James Nichols’ new self-titled album comes after a long wait that was accentuated by the pandemic. Nichols’ previous album, Black Magic, was released in 2017, and established his presence as a guitar virtuoso, consistently delivering memorable solos alongside rebellious, hard-rock lyrics. After releasing a handful of EPs and singles, Jared James Nichols, his third album, was released in January 2023, marking a decade since Nichols began publishing music. The album is no exception to Nichols’ affinity for hard rock and grit. While a majority of the tracks are reminiscent of classic rock and grunge, each delivers a more open and intimate story, ranging from familiar laments of difficult yet energizing love to staunch rebellious declarations of character.
Nichols, lauded as an adept guitarist, shows off his knowledge of music theory in Jared James Nichols. A handful of tracks on the album, like “Down the Drain” and “Good Time Girl,” begin deliberately with attention-grabbing dissonant chords and progressions that seamlessly match with the story Nichols is attempting to tell. “Down the Drain,” in particular, makes the distinction of not only its chord progression descending, but its lyrics aptly documenting the descent, “Am I drowning / Am I sinking / Yeah, I’m circling down the drain.” “Good Time Girl,” on the other hand, discreetly shows a skillfulness in rhythm-making, as its chorus occasionally relies on the progression of triplets and other quickly-played notes.
Jared James Nichols’ first track, “My Delusion,” serves as a reminder of his signature musical theme, with “Easy Come, Easy Go” following up with an equally high-energy and snappy chorus. Each chorus on the album is structured in a similar manner, and are pleasantly uncomplicated–presumably to serve the dedication to compositions that compliment his lyrics–yet they are intensely emotive and representative of Nichols’ talent and dedication. For example, the “Easy Come, Easy Go” chorus emblems a longing for stability and calmness–“It’s easy come and easy go / Can’t change a thing for good / Guess I was born to run / Right now you should know…” Interestingly, while these first two tracks are testaments to Jared James Nichols’ identity as a rock feature, the tracks to come take different turns in a way that matches their profound lyrics.
“Shadow Dancer” is a striking change of pace in the album, as it begins with a smoky, dreamlike guitar solo. Nichols once again chooses dissonant chords to add to the already shadowy and edgy melody, unexpectedly making it an ode to psychedelic rock. Additionally, its lyrics are catchy and unapologetic, and thus it still fits well with other tracks on the album. Several tracks on the album have distinctive lyrics, which is a new venture for Nichols; while guitar solos and aggression are inarguably part of his musical identity, he has seamlessly added lyrics that serve as a view into the mind of the person actually performing said solos.
Consequently, in terms of lyricism, there are several points in which Nichols’ vocals are actually the focal points in the album. “Saint or Fool,” the penultimate track, begins with quiet, echoing vocals with a tender guitar accompaniment. Although it leads into a heavy guitar solo, making it fitting for the album, it is clear that Nichols had a dedication to enhancing his lyrics and ensuring that he is heard by putting his voice front and center. Oftentimes his lyrics are filled with longing and frustration, exposing listeners to a part of him that was unseen in his prior works.
Ultimately, Jared James Nichols is a love letter to the grittiness of classic rock, with an additional vulnerability in his lyrics. Nichols’ return to his fast-paced guitar solos and skillful composition is refreshing for not only fans of the genre, but for those new to his works– each track is highly personalized and solidifies Nichols’ identity as a hardcore musician.
Leave a Comment