The first thing you notice about this Lincoln, Maine-raised and — following stints in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and as a street busker in Europe — now “nomad musician wanderer” folk troubadour’s fourth LP (and first since 2011’s Frontier) is his imposing, grandiose voice. On the opening “Medulla Burning Down,” Augustine recalls a more classically trained Roy Orbison; indeed, so fixating is his eloquent, operatic croon, it’s easy to overlook the dusky, atmospheric guitars wafting behind it. Such a bombastic singing style might grow wearying over time, but he settles into a less flamboyant, lower-register baritone on heftier, drum-backed (by Peter McLaughlin) numbers “Camaro,” “The General’s Son,” and Orbison-esque “Midnight Drum,” each bolstered by Hamilton Belk’s lap/pedal steel, Peter Broderick’s violin, and Jerusha Neely’s cello. With Augustine’s affecting, meticulous phrasing, even drawn-out, story-driven epics “Animal Orchard” and “Philadelphia Lights” will have you hanging on every word.
Jacob Augustine: Bandcamp | Instagram | SoundCloud | YouTube
Team Love Records: Website | Bandcamp
“Halfway to Harlem”
“The General’s Son”
“Midnight Drum”
