CD Review: JD and the Longfellows' Confessions

JD and the Longfellows' CD Confessions blends rockabilly, folk, punk, ska, and numerous other styles too obscure to mention. The result is a great soundtrack to your nights out, or in, drinking. It's also a great soundtrack for driving, working, typing, and talking to your best friend or worst enemy. But mostly it's good for drinking.

The London based band is actually comprised of members from two other bands- Big Girls' Blouse, and Fruit Machine Blues. The band's namesake, JD, is responsible for actually writing the highly entertaining songs, and is the lead vocals for every song on the CD. He is supported by a crack team of musicians in the form of: Clare Portman- support vocals, keyboard, and washboards, Nathan Persad- guitar and vocals, Gemma Cumming- fiddle and vocals, Karma Clay- guitar and vocals, and Malcolm Gayner- drums and vocals.

The CD starts off with Lenny, an unapologetically country song that has a storyline so intact that I can see a western movie playing in my mind as I listen. That's followed by Another Drink, Another Round, Another Bar, Another Town, a tune that encourages drunkenness as much as it contains a warning to watch what's put in your beer, or at least where you keep your plane tickets.

Drink to the Summer evokes the wistful memories and hopes on summer nights. Another Glass of Whiskey makes the comparison between a faithful bottle and a whining girlfriend, and The Sermon seems to be the product of an over active imagination in an under active church.

The themes that run through this CD include, but are not limited to: the pathetic excuses of a cheating man, alcohol, the mile high club, alcohol, getting dumped, alcohol, and, did I mention alcohol?

But don't be fooled by the label of "drinking music". This CD has so much more to offer. It's funny- with great pick-up lines ("I'll show you that my pencil's full of lead"), situations (getting caught in a thunderstorm in nothing but socks), and cleverly worded lyrics that you have to listen to carefully several times before you can unwind the actual point from the song rather than what seems to be the point.

It addresses many of the situations we find ourselves in, and many situations that you've only ever heard about. It takes everything that we would normally find depressing, and makes them funny.

On top of this, the band has recently released a single of their song Why. While this song is also on their CD Confessions, the single has Clare Portman's lovely, soulful voice as the lead. The single is only available at gigs, and as an MP3 offered by email to anyone purchasing Confessions through CD Baby.

I think this is a great CD, but you don't have to take my word for it. Listen for yourself- their songs can be found at CD Baby, on their My Space page, and on their official website in varying sound qualities.