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about this album
Atlases opens with harmonies that siphon a clear influence from Little Comets. This is not a bad thing in the slightest, the innocent folk-punk track is anchored well by Jim Lockey and this is a consistency that is welcomed throughout Jim Lockey and The Solemn Sun’s debut release. Lockey’s trenchant insights harbour angst that transpire through the folk-punk sound that the album oozes, this is particularly true on songs such as ‘Battles’ and ‘Caskets And Bibles’. ‘Mothers And Fathers’ is an emotional track bursting with earnest expression and is one of the more stand-outs on Atlases; violins transcribe the admiration and pain in the lyrics until the track takes a more up-beat approach. Certain aspects of this song are reminiscent of Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes, could Jim Lockey and The Solemn Sun be the British Bright Eyes? It’s entirely possible. ‘Waitress’ has the misfortune of sharing a scarily similar intro to Amy Macdonald’s ‘The Road To Home’. But aside from those connotations, it’s one of the few tracks that delves into the folk stereotype, whilst trying to remain modern and it works surprisingly well. The final track on Atlases - ‘Vessels’ - has a spectacular breakdown right in the middle of the track. The gentle plucking of guitar slowly builds towards two-part harmonies only to be broken down again before employing timeless melodies and a crescendo of drums, a perfect way to round-off a rich album, steeped in lyrical thought and wealth in musical innovation, whi
