Feature: Albums that time forgot – JONATHAN TYLER & THE NORTHERN LIGHTS – Pardon Me

April 16th, 2020 by jason

F-Stop/Atlantic [2010]

I do like a good rummage through the charity and record shops bargain CDs to take a punt on an unknown album based either on the cover, band members/instruments played or song titles (the latter can be a tad dicey though!). One such discovery late last year was this 2010 release from Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights.

The line-up consisted of Jonathan Tyler (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Jordan Cain (drums), Nick Jay (bass, keyboard, vocals), Brandon Pinckard (guitar, vocals) and Mo Brown (vocals).

The one things that stands out after one listen are the vocals of Jonathan Tyler. Despite sounding uncannily like Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler at times (especially on the ballad ‘Young Love’), he is not related to him. One minute a blues hollering, then he tones it down for a gentle ballad.

They are like the Black Crowes jamming with Aerosmith and Blackberry Smoke are providing the musical extras. The musicianship is top notch, featuring plenty of slow burning guitar solos, rock solid bass, sassy harmonica playing and percussion so clear you can almost here the air from the drumsticks.

There are foot stomping rockers (‘Young & Free’), heartfelt ballads with divine guitar solos (‘Young Love’), acoustic numbers (‘Paint Me A Picture’) and down ‘n’ dirty blues rockers (‘Devil’s Basement’). Then just when you think you have the measure of the album, the acapella on ‘Ladybird’ floors you. Simply magnificent, from the light percussion through to the vocal arrangements.

Upon its release ‘Gypsy Woman’ made the US Billboard Mainstream and Rock charts, plus they won awards in their native Dallas, Texas. Since this album’s release the band released one more album, 2015’s ‘Holy Smokes’. Jonathan Tyler has gone solo in a more country/Americana direction and he has a new single ‘Underground Forever/Hustlin’ out on April 20.

By Jason Ritchie

2020 Vision - Rock. Reviewed. Revisited.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)