The Amanda Jackson Band have dropped their second studio album, OCEAN, and we’re not sure whether we should be more impressed by Jackson’s musical versatility, or the fact that its production took place in a woodland cabin and still came out sounding like a million bucks. Either way, the blues outfit are something to behold when they stick to one of their many guns.
There’s a certain soft power that the band frequently employs in their sound, overwhelmingly bolstered by Amanda Jackson’s soulful voice. “Fool Knockin’” and “Firestorm,” both brimming with a quiet, confident intensity, are excellent examples. This aspect of the band is at its strongest, however, in the track “The Warrior.” It enough to sends chills down one’s spine as it gently whispers “I will not be defeated.”
The band is no slouch when it comes to turning up the spunk meter, either. “Break It To Ya” takes full advantage of the group’s roots in soul and blues, utilizing everything from funky instrumentals to Jackson’s unleashed vocals. The band is at its best on tracks like “In The City” and “What If I?” where they’re able to showcase both sides of that range.
Though the band’s versatility is one of their strongest virtues, it’s not quite an absolute. “It May Rain” has a much more melancholic feel to it than the rest of the album, and it wasn’t a favourable departure from either its high-energy or powerful-yet-subtle counterparts.
The outfit also try their hand at cover songs in the form of “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, made famous by Crowded House. While the cover uses all of the band’s best tools, we’re just not entirely sure if the Crowded House hit was the right tune for the band to cover; the softer take on the original track’s confident vibe probably won’t be for everyone.
Nevertheless, the Amanda Jackson Band has a firm grasp on their strengths, with Jackson’s stunning voice being the driving force behind their success, and any soul fans will not be disappointed should they choose to add OCEAN to their library.