Posted by: pkerr | October 22nd, 2024
Jamie McLean's rise to prominence started in the wild world of New Orleans music, playing lead guitar for the legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Known for bending genres, he has shared stages over the years alongside icons like Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Gregg Allman, and Derek Trucks. He's built his own path over the past decade and a half, leading a Southern roots rock trio with his signature passion for soulful, powerful, emotive guitar playing. One Step Forward is his seventh album, and it bursts out of the gates with a seasoned confidence and vibrancy, with his knack for infectious hooks shining brightly throughout the record.
A massive guitar riff tears through the fabric to reveal the opening anthem "Summer of Who Knows When", a red-blooded rocker casting a loving look backwards at young love and childhood adventures. McLean's voice drips with sincerity as he sings, "That was the summer that it all began": a perfect introduction to an album celebrating life's joys while acknowledging the struggles along the way. The meaty guitar riff and scrappy harmonies of "Calendar Girl" continue the momentum, while the funk-infused "Too Little Too Late" swings with an irresistible bassline. The magical interplay between the keys and guitar in the chorus leads to a masterful solo that soars above the bridge's inventive chord progression.
McLean's reflective side comes out in "Don't Leave Us Now," a deeply moving ballad that offers a hand to anyone struggling. "Maybe you're just dying for some healing / It's all you think about when no one is around," he sings with a tenderness that feels both personal and universal. The song's plea hangs in the air, filled with hope and compassion. "To anyone that is listening / To anyone that hears the call / I know that you're down and you're thinking about it / But don't leave us now."
On "New York Penny Lane," McLean delivers a slower yet equally punchy track, with a chunky groove and celebratory guitar lines to make you "dance beneath the autumn moon." The bouncy and breezy "Feeling Good" takes a catchy turn into island rhythms, with an airy bass and keyboard interlude that feels like a warm breeze floating by, and leads into the earworm guitar riff and straightforward message of "I Believe in Love." The record closes with its title track, "One Step Forward," a mid-tempo gem that showcases McLean's skill in crafting emotionally resonant melodies and solos. The long guitar lines feel perfectly placed atop the gorgeous bed of keyboards and bass.
Through it all, McLean's heart and soul are unmistakable. The music is fun, raw and honest, filled with both exuberance and yearning. His versatile voice ranges from rock and roll snarl to plaintive wail, and each guitar note feels deliberate, carefully chosen to match the emotional landscape of the song. While his guitar work may evoke the spirit of heroes past, his bold and expressive sound is uniquely his own. Catch Jamie McLean Band on tour this fall, bringing the creativity and fire of One Step Forward to venues up and down the East Coast.
- Paul Kerr
