It appears that with Jim Evans, folk music is not only surviving, but positively flourishing in Bristol.
'On Seeds and Shoes' is Jim's second album, and follows on from 2012s '12 Folk Sons'. With this latest album, Jim has taken things a lot further. There are the sort of folk protest songs, that people usually associate with Bob Dylan, plus there are electric folk, and country style songs all delivered in Jim's unique style.
His lyrics are absolutely excellent, with acres of observation, wit and humour - “Oh the day disappeared over the hill, with a magazine, carrier bag and a vitamin pill”('The Day Disappeared').
Stuff like this is rare enough, and when you have an album with twelve top tracks on it, you really can't go wrong.
The opening track, 'Seeds Sown' falls well into the folk protest song environment, right from the start Jim delivers a healthy dose of realism “A morning is broken and it cannot be repaired”. This is a guitar driven folk song that is up there with the best, interplayed with some gentle harmonica work, as Jim tells it like it is: - “Challenge the ticking of the clock, and put their mitts up to their brow/ For what needs to be done can't be done tomorrow coz it needs to be done right now”.
'If I Had it My Way' move things up to electric folk music, with some excellent guitar work, and once again really strong self deprecating lyrics: - “Well if I had it my way, If I had it my own way/ If I had it my own way, the skies would not be blue but grey, if I had it my own way/ And if I knew myself, if I knew my own self/ If I knew myself then I would leave me on the shelf, If I knew myself”.
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This is a bouncy song that is really catchy, and features the wonderful rhyme “If I live just one more year then I'll drink my weight in beer” - a splendid idea! 'Callow Eyes' is another track that hits hard with it's despairing observation about things gone: - “Poppin' out for milk, stumbled on the truth/ Fell down to the pavement, knocked out my tooth/ I need to call for help but these days can't even find a telephone booth.”
Overall, this is a top class album, a real asset to the collection of anyone interested in the folk genre.
On Seeds And Shoes is available from: - Jim Evans Bandcamp Page
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