Eastern Kentucky native and singer/songwriter Nicholas Jamerson and the Morning Jays follows-up his 2017 releases NJ with The Wild Frontier – a concept album that explores themes of loneliness, hope, and compassion through the adventures of the fictional character “Will of the Wild Frontier.” Hence, the cowboy riding on top of a giant rabbit on the album’s cover. Jamerson is a passionate storyteller, gifted poet, thoughtful composer who has a talent for melding lyrics, emotion, and melodies into great songs. The album was produced at MIMUS Studios in Winder, Georgia, with Levi Lowrey (Zac Brown Band) alongside the backing band The Morning Jays: Wes Smith (acoustic/electric guitar, keys, mandolin), Aaron Smith (fiddle, mandolin), Jordan Allen (bass), Thomas Albert (pedal steel, electric guitar) and Lawrence Nemenz (percussion). Also included are appearances from his brother Joby Jamerson, Lowrey, Benji Shanks, Mark Stephens, Matt Meneffee, and Emily Davis. The album’s standout tracks include: a lonesome story that introduces listeners to Will of The Wild on “Ride”; the tense and haunting “Leviathan”; a hard-luck miner’s song “Feather Bed”; the tall tale toe-tapper “Brother Rabbit”; a tender song for a friend who passed away “Linda James”; the Commander Cody-esque “Getting Better”; the introspective slow-burner “Gambler”; the upbeat “We Are”; and the closing title-track “The Wild Frontier.” Nicholas Jamerson and the Morning Jays’ The Wild Frontier release is both a polished and great listen. Nicholas Jamerson fits in with the best of his Kentucky contemporaries like: Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, and Tyler Childers. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Tyler Childers, Brent Cobb, Jermey Pinnell, Sturgill Simpsons, Chris Stapleton