Jamie Granger – True Hearted Kind (Album Review)

Today’s review features a new album, True Hearted Kind, by Jamie Granger.

“Jamie Granger is a singer-songwriter from Florida whose songs charm listeners with poignant lyrics and appealing melodies, a lyrical journey through museums, roadside motels, and the dreams of lost cowboys.”

Granger’s songs recall John Prine, Nick Drake, and early Bob Dylan. True Hearted Kind, Granger’s debut album for Y&T Music, was recorded and produced in Nashville by Jack Shawde and Diane Ward.

So let’s have a listen …

I’m Going Back – starts with a downward moving chord progression. Enter the vocals, a nice voice. About him and his best friend robbing a gas station and having an affair with his little sister. Nice drumming on the track. “I’m going back to the place I come from, … to the girl that I ran from.”

Up to Heaven – nice fingerpicking to start off this song. “I dreamed that I went up to heaven, saw a girl I once knew.” The song is a story about that girl. The playing is spot on, just an acoustic guitar on this one. Lovely guitar performance. The song ends on the first line, nice touch.

French Canadian Girl – stronger rhythm on this song. Nice bass guitar riff. Nice song about longing for a French Canadian girl he once encountered. He travels the world, describes his adventures, and still longs for a French-Canadian girl.

You and Me – Starts with a fingerpicked acoustic guitar and a fiddle solo. A love song. I love how Granger’s writing includes every morsel of detail about the stories he’s describing in his lyrics. The songs are cleverly composed to bring out the details and emotion of each story.

Stuck with Me – Nice fingerpicking acoustic guitar intro. “Why’d I spend these tears on you?” A series of questions and thoughts about the girl he loves. Nice arrangement. Another clever Granger song. I like using questions as a lyric device to add details to his songwriting.

When I Was Three – a story about being three, tripping and falling into a motel pool, and being saved by a stranger. Lovely chord arrangement. Solo acoustic guitar. Another chapter about a soldier killed in war. Nice bridge in the middle of the song. The song ends with the line, “When I was three, my family lived in a motel, waiting on a better place to be.”

Someday – starts with a Beatles-type chord progression on a lovely-sounding acoustic guitar. A bass joins in the chorus. The theme of someday I’ll ask her. “Someday, I’m going to ask her, maybe not today.” The rhymes are very clever. Nice bridge in the song with a keyboard, and a steel guitar (or dobro) solo. Nice drums on this song. A lovely song.

True Hearted Kind – the title cut of the album. Kicks off with a lovely fingerpicking acoustic guitar riff. “When I was too young to know better.” “I turned my back on the one who loved me.” Going from having “all that I wanted” to “these days I have none.” Reminiscing about a lost love. Lovely steel guitar slides that accentuate the song’s unsure emotions.

Ilona – starts with humming over drums. A piano vamping chords. No acoustic guitar on this one. “I nearly lost my mind … Hey Ilona, won’t you bring out your guitar tonight … (and) let me know if I should stay.” A song about a girl, the Carolina hills, moonshine, and good memories. Loving the breakdown with just singing over the drums, then the piano joins back in.

Hands of Ladies – starts with a heavy strum, and then the vocals enter. Describing the hands of ladies … the same old story. From Renaissance times through today. A song about the 15th century, and angels. Loving the string section over the drums and guitar. Nice bass playing too. Loving the strings – here they sound a bit like a Coldplay song. Very interesting song.

Even from Down Here – Starts with a descending fingerpicking acoustic guitar. The song’s main chord progression reminds me of Alice Cooper’s Only Women Bleed. But it’s definitely a folk song in this presentation.

My First Rodeo – the last song on the album begins with a strumming guitar. “Montana in July, river running high.” “Whiskey in a paper cup.” It’s the vivid details in the lyrics that make each of these songs memorable. The vocals on this song remind me of Slaid Cleeves. Lovely electric guitar and steel guitar break. The song ends appropriately on “my first rodeo.”

Granger’s acoustic guitar playing on this album is a thing of beauty. As are all the musical instrument enhancements to the various songs. Excellent and clear production. This is an album from a very skilled songwriter.

Normally, when people compare themselves to John Prine, I scoff. But here, it fits. Granger is a master songwriter, and his guitar performance is masterful. These songs are crafted with an expert’s ear and hands. And love.

SCORE/Outstanding: Jamie Grainger may really be the next John Prine. The mastery of his instrument and storytelling sets him apart from most of his contemporaries. The album is truly a thing of beauty.
Much love, Beth

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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