Jonny Gill - Thieves, Ghosts and Giants (Album Review)
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Written by Ben Bland
There is no shortage of talented young singer-songwriters dotted about the country...but how many of them really have a personality of their own? Probably a disappointingly small number, which is why, despite its flaws, this debut album by York based Jonny Gill is worth a bit of your time.
Certainly, at fourteen songs in length, 'Thieves, Ghosts and Giants' could be accused of overstaying its welcome a bit, and some of the tracks may come across as more earnest than truly heartfelt, but Jonny Gill definitely has a personality and that is what makes his best tracks so impressive. Take last year’s single, 'Thieves amongst Honour'. Its delightful fingerpicked refrain is accompanied by refreshingly understated vocals and simple but poetic lyrics. It’s by no means a complicated formula but when done in a way that is trying to be personal and yet original it is genuinely enjoyable. The likes of 'I Was Never a Giant' and 'Somnia' may follow a roadworn structure but are proof that sometimes one man with an acoustic guitar can be all that is needed to create good songs.
The strongest facet of Gill’s folk stylings is undoubtedly his voice. It would be easy for him to take the same shouty folk-punk approach of his hero Frank Turner, but it would also be totally inappropriate. His restrained tones bring tracks such as 'Ghost vs. Witches' to life, whilst also making the odd lyrical miss seem far more palatable. It is telling that the most difficult to love track here is the more up tempo 'This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us', which apes the folk punksters of today without appearing totally convincing, even if its protestations of love for the city of York are something I can get on board with.
Although some of the tracks on this release are noticeably weaker, overall 'Thieves, Ghosts and Giants' is a good solid introduction to the world of full-length albums. More importantly it sounds uncannily like its creator, and despite its rich background of clear influences, manages to stay away from imitation throughout. Jonny Gill might not be the finished article yet, but if this album gets him some deserved exposure who knows what might happen next...?
'Thieves, Ghosts and Giants” is available now from http://jonnygillmusic.bigcartel.com/ and it’s only £7...why haven’t you bought it yet? Hurry up.
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