CD Review
Artist: Jay Crocker
Title:Below The Ocean Over

Label: Artunit Recording

Released: October 14, 2008

 
Reviewed by: Leah Mertz (Alberta Correspondent)

Well, Jay Crocker certainly has no interest in sticking to his homegrown Calgary-cowtown roots for his latest album ‘Below the Ocean Over’. In fact as I listened to the album, I found myself wondering where his inspiration has stemmed from. Upon listening to a random and seemingly awkward collection of his songs, it is difficult to tell which way is up and down. Yes, it is that obscure.

In his collection, instrumental songs like ‘Birds On Bones’ and ‘Dirty Old Nights’ are interesting interludes that either sound like a sleeping Alice in Wonderland or the underlying hum of an old sci-fi movie. Other tracks like ‘July’ sound like an indie Broadway medley, and the track ‘Jet Stream’ is anything but loud- instead we are ironically swept into a sombre lullaby. There is huge variation among all of the songs, but it seems an underlying rugged industrial sound contributes to many of the song’s performance. Harsh sounding percussion instruments and unannounced sound effects make up elaborate, and often over crowded, layering of sounds.

On a positive note, his sound is very stylized and a direct reflection of his personal taste. I am also a big fan of vintage instrumentation; it was nice to hear the classic sounds of guitars and keyboards prominently featured on the album. The textures he creates may be odd, but no one can dispute their degree of innovation. Crocker goes out of his way to create his own ethnic-type genre. The pads, plucks and modulators that are used almost suggest they have been sampled from other distinctly cultured music. Alas, maybe I am indeed answering my initial question regarding the puzzling origin of Crocker’s music!

Let us be honest, folks. This album was recorded in two weeks in sunny Arizona. Perhaps Jay and the boys spent a little too much time enjoying the golf courses and not enough in the studio perfecting what could have been inspiring art. A solid effort, but its chaotic nature made it tiring to listen to.

Track Listing:
1) July
2) Birds on Bones
3) Keep Calm
4) Falling out of Windows
5) Below the Ocean Over pt 24
6) Robot Clothes
7) Tornado Warnings
8) Dirty Old Nights
9) Below the Ocean Over pt 23
10) The Delicious
11) Jet Stream
12) Broadway Star
13) Your Complete Guide