By Kim Hutchison
Staff Reporter:
The Beatles meet the Tragically Hip is the best way to describe the sound projected on Luke Jackson’s third album, “Luke Jackson…and Then Some” which hit shelves on Nov. 4. It’s been six years since the release of his self-produced and well received second album, “Momemtum” and with the retro sound combined with a unique modern twist found here, audiences should be just as pleased with this CD as they were with the last.
Jackson had corresponded via e-mail for many years with Magnus Borjeson, a singer/songwriter he was a huge fan of. They finally crossed paths in Paris, France where Borjeson was mid-tour playing in the Cardigans. They became friends and Jackson accepted an invitation to go to Sweden, which was followed by the invitation to return and record. He made a second trip in Jan. 2008 and quickly got to work at the Aersol Grey Machine – the all analogue recording studio of producer and talented musician Chritoffer Lundquist, along with drummer Jens Jansson (Per Gessie, Brainpool) and bassist and friend Magnus Borjeson (Beagle, Favorita, Cardigans). Jackson sent the songs to string arranger Robert Kirby who loved what he heard and offered to write orchestrations and accompany Luke to Sweden to conduct recording sessions with nine players from Malmo’s Opera Orchestra. Jackson’s clear voice and reflective lyrics emphasize the amount of talent he possesses, but the strings add a distinct depth and flare to every track. Hopefully fans won’t have to wait another six years until he records again.
Songs to listen to: “Trouble” and “Half a World Away.”