Album review: JACK FRANCIS – Jack Francis

JACK FRANCIS - Jack Francis

Good Deeds Music [Release date: 04.02.22]

In introducing his remarkably lean and confident debut album, Jack Francis manages to namecheck Bruce Springsteen, and without realising it, Paul McCartney.

There are echoes of ‘Yesterday’ in his story that the song, ‘Helena’, popped into his head in one seamless package . . . lyrics, chords, chorus . . . during a dream one night. Springsteen sat outside his house and sang it to him. Cool.

He woke next morning and wrote it all down. Done.

We have no doubt it’s all true. But even if it isn’t, it’s a great story. He should write a song about it.

Francis, an Englishman in Americana, writes songs that evoke the confessional blues and the plaintive country rock music of days gone by. Confessional in the sense he claims he’s not complete without the love of a good, good woman. ‘Driftwood’ as his voice breaks down, and ‘Cold Hearted Little Man’ is this notion at its most stark… “Alone I Won’t Survive”. The album is full of those brief, glorious moments of poetic self awareness.

None of the songs on the album could be described as a ballad. Just heartfelt, unhurried songs, rising to choruses backed up by a gospel choir…like on ‘A Little Love’ and ‘Wild Eyes’, two of many where the acoustic and electric mix of guitars are tracked by a Hammond Organ, like a friend playing catchup.

And while ‘Helena’ and ‘A Little Love’ have been getting the BBC radio airplay, it’s fair to say that ‘Holiday’ is the album’s big song. It creates the biggest ripple in a flow of slow moving admissions, as Francis expresses his love for an unamed woman. There’s a sadness in the song too, but it’s incredibly strong, very mellow. The way a love song should be.

All through the album, Francis seems to be drawing from a well of hard won self knowledge. Even when his grainy, lived-in vocals tackle the jaunty, amusing ‘Silver Lining’, he ultimately concludes that for every artist ambitious to make it, reality eventually bites … “when you’re flat broke, nobody will give you the time of day’, and decisions have to be made.

This album should change all that. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

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)