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Jimmy Bonar - Album Review: Working Class

20 Feb 2015 // A review by Andrew Smit

Working Class is a very polished and clean soft rock album, clearly a work crafted over time and perfected with much care in a recording studio, as the lush sound and clarity of the recordings are of high quality and consistent throughout. Jimmy is clearly influenced by The Beatles and has recreated their sound with a little help of a slight English accent on the vocals, to the point where Jimmy's voice sounds like of a mix of John Lennon and Noel Gallagher.

The songs are well crafted, highlights are Helping HandTake A Bow andA Bit Of A Bob with wonderful arrangements that are easy on the ear, with very catchy melodies, all sung with startling clarity and perfect diction by Jimmy's soulful and smooth voice. The sweet tuneful nature of each song to a degree obscures you from the more complex themes of the songs which range from high maintenance lovers and suppressed emotions, there is a theme in there somewhere we all can connect with at some point in our lives.

The music has been given the treatment in post-production with layered vocals and distant effect laden backing vocals which create some cool vibes. There is an distinct formula for the songs on the album, with gentle soft rock songs and the occasional folky ballad all done to a standard pop arrangement, with crisp mixing and mastering polishing it all off, maybe it’s a little too polished as it's slightly too sparkly and clean, with the band sounding so perfect they almost sound synthesised. But you can tell Working Class is a creation of Jimmy's' labour and love, he has delivered an album that’s enjoyable to listen to, with very catchy tunes, they feel good and you soon will be singing and smiling along.

 

About Jimmy Bonar

Jimmy Bonar, 40 something singer-sonwriter is from Mt Eden, Auckland.

Born the week The Beatles were # 1 in America with 'Yesterday'.... that might sound pretty ancient but the man himself is nothing of the sort......born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand he lists amongst his major musical influences as The Beatles (whom he credits as shaping his outlook on music and life in general), Led Zeppelin, Sheryl Crow, Ryan Adams, The Small Faces, George Harrison………….but really the list is endless.

The first song Jimmy Bonar ever wrote was entitled 'Out of Nowhere' when he was 17 years old. Subsequently as he matured as an artist subconscious themes were forming and evolving - that of a continued exploration of his inner self coupled with an often simplistic yet engaging outlook on everyday life.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Jimmy Bonar

Releases

Working Class
Year: 2014
Type: Album
2 Sides To Jimmy B
Year: 2013
Type: Album
Full Circle
Year: 2005
Type: Album

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