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Rating: Reviewing a band "in reverse" is never easy, by now you're too influenced by what happened afterwards, making what came before seem stripped of all those fundamental characteristics that led you to love them.
It is the chrysalis that, with great effort, will manage to break the shell that protects it and separates it from the world, finally taking the first steps towards the future.
In "The Tennessee Fire" you don't hear all the psychedelic nuances and elaborate sounds that the band today knows how to weave with great skill, and James's voice doesn't yet appear solid, even though his undisputed talent manages to emerge at times from the songs (listen to the very sweet "I Will Be There When You Die", accompanied only by a faint acoustic guitar).
A very strong personality that of Jim James, an undisputed leadership, the only thing the band needed back in 1998, formerly known as Winter Death Club, which included Quaid, Blankenship, and Glenn.
In short, he arrives, and the music changes (literally!). Within a year, they managed to put together this album, which would be released in May 1999 by Daria Records, giving themselves a credible air.
A very clean and clear album, featuring many acoustic and electric guitars (Bo Koster, the keyboard wizard, had yet to join); a mandolin is heard in "If All Else Fails."
And there are the threads of voices that from this debut have their own dimension and underline the flow of the tracks; characteristic harmonies that can be heard from the first two songs, Heartbreakin' Man and the wonderful They Ran, with falsetto vocals coloring the main one.
The quality of the recordings isn't top-notch, perhaps in search of a sound closer to the live dimension and that of home rehearsals, or simply due to a lack of funds. The fact is that the melodies of the songs come through first, aided by this dry drum sound ("War Begun" and "Picture of You" are the perfect examples) and the guitar chords, which don't hide behind synthetic sounds of effects and keyboards. You can even hear some mistakes here and there, but that's okay.
Only the final "Untitled Track" seems to leave space for an embryonic experimentation, almost a warning for future fans.
The lyrics also reflect the flow of the music: they are very short (you might even see them laid out in just two sentences!) and speak of simple things, those a twenty-year-old from Kentucky can tell us about. Lost loves, the fears that grip him, like the fear of not being up to life's challenges and not being able to escape a region certainly not easy for an aspiring musician.
"I'd move on, but I know you'll need some day/ I'd roll on, but I know you'll need some day".
The four from Louisville do not hold back, sixteen songs for almost an hour of music, no frills, and a lot, a lot of desire to show themselves for what they are.
There will be time for sound search and refined arrangements, you have to do your apprenticeship first.
I know why I love My Morning Jacket, but "The Tennessee Fire" made me understand that I don't need all the embellishments they carry today to love them, their songs are enough for me.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 The Bear (04:39)
its a bad idea, to go down to the pier by your self after dark.
it's a bad idea, cause they're down on their luck
and they've lost touch with their bleeding hearts.
bad idea, cause i've felt that way and i know i shouldn't have gone.
the time is near,
to come forward with whatever killed your spark.
There's still time, for you,
to change your mind or whatever
else you do. there's still time. whosaa!!!
04 Nashville to Kentucky (02:58)
from nashville to kentucky, my heart it draws the line,
somewhere someone thinks of me,
i just wish it was somewhere i could find.
TAKE ME OUT of this dead-end nightmare.
TAKE ME OUT of this hell im in.
TAKE ME OUT of this dead end nightmare,
and put me back in a world i can live.
05 Old Sept Blues (02:28)
All alone at the end of the day, really tired it's time to hit the hay.
It was always good to hear you say:"you never were a
drawback, you always were an asset, you never were a drawback,
no you weren't."
Put away your corset, put away your shoe,
put away the old september blues
07 It's About Twilight Now (04:06)
it's about twilight now, out in the stream,
you're lookin low now, in yo tight blu jean.
i'm feelin ready, i'm feelin lean, four years of bright lights,
can make it seem like no one can baby (yeah yeah)
it's about twilight now, i'm in the field.
you're lookin low now, im runnin still,
you're a readin book now, it's gettin!!!!
oh, four years of bright lights, can make it seem,
like no one can b.b. (yeah yeah)
09 War Begun (03:06)
Stolen as the war begun, this time your soul is my one.
I belong to a race of robots, drownin out my one.
Anytime your war gets out
of hand I'll take it on.
Stolen as the wars begun, this time your soul is my one.
I'D MOVE ON, but I know you'll need me some day.
I'D roll ON, but I know you'll need me some day
11 I Will Be There When You Die (04:42)
joe was born in new york city, son of paul and catherine.
always down and always out,
but his morals always seemed just fine.
there will be bigotry and there will be open minds.
there will be days of peace you'll never have the time.
AS LONG AS YOU KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE,
i will be there when you die
i was born in east kentucky, home of where the grass is dyed.
always down and always out,
but my morals always seemed just fine.
there will be bigotry and there will be open minds.
there will be days of peace you'll never have the time.
as long as you keep a straight face,
i will be there when you die.
12 The Dark (03:22)
trapped in gasoline, a lizard on a string, no one ever screams any more.
its called THE DARK. its not a sunny day for the dark.
let in the dark, then you you can sleep and fuck and park.
let in the dark, it's not another day for the dark.
let in the dark, then you can sleep and move and park.
so tight, i can't breathe, gods fingers chokin me,
like a prisoner on his knees,
beggin won't do a thing for me so c'mon (you can't fight it)
people, oh they're my thing these days,
they like to swim, and catch them rays.
MONEY, dont do a thing for me, im happy now, thats how i be.
it's called the dark.
14 Butch Cassidy (03:55)
butch cassidy i could've been your friend,
and rode with you and the sundance kid.
we'd laugh awhile and we'd smile a bit,
cause crimes like our arent counterfit.
they say you never even killed a man,
till it came right down to your final stand.
bullets flyin and the wounded cryin
and your buddy he's goin down.
get lower and the feelins show
and you gave off the final sound.
cause a soldiers death is so much better than defeat just hangin around.
defeat just hangin around.
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