Prolific folk musician and artist Paul James has been around the circuit for a while now. All his albums have garnered him praise from music critics and outlets alike. What stands out is his amazing songwriting ability that takes a simple theme and spin whole narratives that are filled with surprises and startling insights. He has a loyal and growing following; fans who find the music only seems to get better the more they listen to it.
James is returning with his eighth album titled ‘Yesterday’s Air.’ The release features James on guitar and vocals, Haw ‘Mac McCarthy on harmonica, and Natalie Hall and Charlotte Knott on backing vocals.
On this album, James mainly belts or coos while a guitar accompaniment backs him. For the most part, this works. Take, for example, the opener, “Guerilla,” where James takes the simplicity of his stripped-back performance to give wider emotional range to the overall track. He sings: “And you might be able to knock me down/But that don’t mean I won’t fight/No that don’t mean I won’t fight.” Toward the 1:32 mark when the strumming of the guitar gets louder, the song becomes even more dynamic. Once the harmonica enters, everything really comes together. The countdown in the background also adds a sense of urgency to the overall track. About a protagonist who finally stands up for himself in the face of a dying love, the poignant storytelling and emotional execution really spoke to me.
Following is “The Myth Makers,” which felt just as heavy as the previous track. Here, the harmonica opens up as some soft noodling on the guitar underlines James’s strong vocalizations. He sings: “How I wish there was a better way/And how I wish that we could truly have our say/But our voices have been taken away…They need us to believe whatever they say/‘Cause who got it all gotta have their way.” The track talks about the gap between the haves and have-nots and is a searing deconstruction of our political and social climate today. The ending lyrics: “Gonna shut out the TV/Gonna shut out the news/Gonna shut out the white noise/Gonna listen to big bill blues…” really resonated in my mind.
The simple combination of harmonica + guitar + vocals continues “The Present Position of Your Heart.” Here, I thought the background vocals added an overall compelling element to the track. (“When you’re hiding from the outside/And shaking from the bills/And destiny has become your career…It’s never too late to stop/And it’s never too late to stop/And it’s never too late to reevaluate/The present position of your heart”) The lyrics talk about the narrator speaking to someone who is feeling particularly lost. The song offers some sage advice to those who need some guidance after feeling a little down on their luck with life.
Toward “Travellin’ Man,” finger-picking on the guitar starts out this track. Then the vocals come in as well as some harmonica and some backing vocals. (“Being a travellin’ man/Being a travellin’ man/But I’m not gonna be a travellin’ man no more”) About a “travellin’ man, who decides to settle down after all his wanderings. This felt like a softer ballad compared to the other more energized tracks. In a way, this felt like a lullaby, with the soft guitar noodling and the slow-burning quality. Though this had a softer energy, I enjoyed this track as well.
On “Waiting on a Greyhound in Downtown Memphis,” the wanderlust continues here. (“There’s a moving on and I’m moving back/Gotta need of a dollar and the wind on my back/When it’s time to go your mind just slows/Once you’re gone, there’s no turning back”) Wow, what an opening! The lyrics immediately hook you in. What I’ve been noticing as I listen to this album is that James’s lyrics are filled with searing details and emotional nuances that make the storytelling stand out and make it even more vivid in my mind.
There seems to be a common underlying theme here as the sense of adventure and wanderlust continues with “New Town Calling.” Impactful strumming on the guitar and the enthusiastic sounds of the harmonica add a great energy to this track. The pacing picks up, and James sings with feeling. (“I didn’t come here to only come here/I know it’s a long way to go…Got a new town calling/Got a new town calling/Now that don’t mean I forgot what’s gone/In the times of ups and downs/And that don’t mean that I’ve forgotten what went wrong when you and I were at the speed of sound”) About moving on and finding new adventures after a love doesn’t work out, this song is about new beginnings and embarking on a fresh start.
The mournful sounds of the harmonica and strumming on the acoustic guitar greet the start of “The Breaking Wheel.” It looks like James is going to narrate a tragic tale with these ominous opening lyrics: “Forgive me while I tell you a long-forgotten tale/Projected by the wind while I was sheltering from a gale/While the pain was falling like drops of poison rain/Where the clouds were forming like where you’ll never see light again.” The poetic lyrics and vibrant imagery painted a powerful scene. James’s powerful vocal delivery also makes the overall listening experience even more captivating. About a hopeless situation that just doesn’t get better, this song talks about a narrator who feels crushed by all the things life has dealt him.
The slow-burning quality of James’s music continues “Kind of Wild.” Here, you can’t miss the emotionality from the lyrics and vocal delivery. What I’ve been noticing is that James’s lyrics are oftentimes filled with wisdom and nuggets of truth. (“I sometimes forgot about stuff like that/On those days when life becomes a matter of fact/Just thought it might be worth considering for a while/Sometimes it’s time for a change of style/Might help you find a different kind of wild”) These are layered into the storytelling, so that it doesn’t sound preachy but an integral part of the narrative. This was one of those instances.
Right off the bat, the bluesy twang on the guitar and the vocals gave “Working For Tina” a brand-new energy. I really liked the atmosphere of this track. The lyrics felt fun, and I had a great time listening to it.
Some baroque guitarwork struts to the start of “In Too Deep.” This felt like another bluesy number with some very nice background vocals backing the overall harmonies and melody. I loved the energy of this piece as well. The bluesy rhythms from the guitar and James’s deep rumbling vocals really spoke to me. This was another fun-loving track with a great bluesy vibe.
The album concludes with “Whatever You Decide.” Like the previous track, this was another rambunctious bluesy number filled with fun-loving lyrics. The wonderful background vocals also added some great flavor to this song.
SCORE/Good: Unlike how its title implies, James’ album ‘Yesterday’s Air’ isn’t all about heavy themes and topics. There are some light-hearted and fun-loving fare scattered in there, and it allows a bit of a breather between the heavier tracks. As I listened to these bluesy numbers, I felt like it could be a good direction for James to go in. Perhaps in his later albums, he could explore this sound later on. That could be food for thought later. All in all, Paul James packs in visually stimulating lyrics with poignant storytelling and quality musicianship. I give this a ‘Good’ rating because this type of music isn’t my cup of tea. But I can see this resonating with followers of folk/country/Americana and fans of ballads overall. James offers a compelling perspective to the folk genres, and I can see this speaking to a lot of music lovers out there.
[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]
Follow Paul James on:
![Wong Diane Now Only Me [Single Review]](https://musicreviewworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Wong-Diane-Now-Only-Me-Single-Review-1-356x220.png "Wong Diane – Now Only Me (Single Review)")
