Review: "The Girl From Cherry Valley" Album by Jas Frank and the Intoits
Jas Frank & the Intoits is a music group based in Croatia. Their sound is direct and intuitive, with a focus on creating catchy, yet thought-provoking music. An innovative blend of different genres, their music has been influenced by diverse artists from different eras, such as Simon and Garfunkel, the Doors and Nirvana, down to RHCP and Gotye, only to mention a few.
The group blends many genres, such as pop and rock in order to create a new and unique sound. Their debut album “The Girl from Cherry Valley” is their first attempt to tear down the walls of musical clichés, explore different creative ideas and set the bar higher.
Before anything else, I need to mention how beautiful the cover art is for this album. The guitarist, next to a leafless tree, look up in the sky at the earth is very dope and creative. It intrigues me and makes me want to hear what the project is all about.
I must admit that this album is unlike anything I’ve heard in a long time (or perhaps ever). This group has really created their own unique sound that blends many popular styles together without sounding too much like any one of them. The band has a vocalist with a beautifully unique voice that is bright and clear, and the band members are obviously elite at their respective instruments.
None of the 10 tracks on the album sound the same, which is impressive. I could easily hear any of these songs in the soundtrack of a movie. They have edge, catchiness, and they evoke a myriad of emotions such as sadness, anger, anxiety, confidence and love.
My personal favorite song is “In Early Morning”. It has a beat that builds and brings you in more and more as it does so. The singing is smooth and beautiful, and I love all of the instrumentation. Once again, I could picture this song playing in the score/soundtrack of a film.
Overall, I really enjoy this album and the fact that this group has accomplished what many try to, which is creating a sound that is their own.