Review: "Forget the Days" Album by Jim Soule
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Chicago singer-songwriter Jim Soule embodies the power of hope on the sunny sound of “Forget the Days”. Going for a perfect slice of indie rock, the whole album possesses a thoughtfulness that reveals itself in multitudes. Arrangements have a distinct cleverness with anthemic riffs with a sense of playfulness. Lyrics too seem to be drenched in sunlight while they tap into an optimism. The entirety of the album has a force of nature quality to it. Volume is a must for there is an undeniable allure to its desire for so much physicality.
The creative arrangements at times recall They Might Be Giants’ joyous discography. Akin to They Might Be Giants, Jim Soule goes for the unexpected at times, offering clever shifts within songs and allowing for a great deal of tenderness that radiates throughout the entirety of the whole album. Highly addictive with their insistent grooves, they draw from Spoon’s careful classic sound. Everything about this goes for that same sort of carefree attitude, while the guitars at times offer so much sheer passion as they glide on through.
A burst of intense rhythms races through on the celebratory opener “A New Brand of Fiction” with crystal clear vocals front and center. The mellowed-out vibes of “Snapshots” incorporates a bit of determination with the communal vocals further adding to the track’s emotional core. Guitars weave themselves together on the brilliant bright patterns of “Face”.
“In The End” strips the sound down to the essentials with the piano anchoring the whole song. Easily the highlight of the album comes from the urgency of “At the Wheel”. With an aptly employed driving rhythm, the piece is a whirlwind of intensely felt freedom. Reflective to its core, the tenderness of “Missed the Parade” chooses a rather lovely demeanor while it unfurls, featuring gorgeous strings in its latter half. Guitars intertwine on the western twang of “Avenue of Fears”. Neatly bringing the whole of the album to a transcendent close is “Fool’s Day”.
The triumphant “Forget the Days” album shows off Jim Soule’s deft skill in delivering a slice of truly great rock, the kind of thing that touches the very soul.