You Are The Light - Jamie Brackman (Album Review)
As the Grand Rapids music scene continues to change and adapt with the development of the city, songwriters within its boundaries will continue to tell their stories. Whether it’s solely focused on the region or reflective of the global population, there are musicians eager to communicate their thoughts and emotions with audiences hungry for authentic experiences in a sea of targeted Facebook ad campaigns and Amazon trying to sell you a dishware set because you used dish soap too close to your Alexa. Cut to Jamie Brackman, an artist whose travels have landed him in Grand Rapids and who immediately injected himself in the scene through the Founders Open Mic on Tuesdays (where I first met him). Within the Grand Rapids area, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, he has performed with many different artists and projects, pairing his experiences on the road with the passionate drive to collaborate with those he meets. He recently released his debut, self-produced album, You Are The Light, to tell tales of love, community, and even sprinkling in observations about the world around him, from the concerned to the inspired.
The album kicks off with “Killing Time,” where Jamie articulates that feeling of knowing you’re on a journey and moving forward, but in this moment you feel like you’re just killing time while trying to figure out the next step. It features drums and a shredding guitar solo from frequent collaborator Jared Tuitel, who can pull out staples from the guitar legend catalog on a whim like “Cliffs of Dover” (Eric Johnson) and “Glasgow Kiss” (John Petrucci). “Lying Tongue” slows things down slightly, describing the emotional exhaustion that comes from trying to find love in a new companion and realizing their sweet words are toxic and the love they receive is not then returned. However, “Wicked Ways” then flips the perspective, where Jamie sings of someone wanting love but knowing they have to get over his “wicked ways” and acknowledge that there are issues to address. “Love You and Leave You” feels like a resolution to these two previous songs, where Jamie and guest vocalist Amy Love sing about not wanting a relationship to feel so fleeting. Each verse is sung by a different singer too to help emphasize each perspective. “Waiting on a Friend to Call” has an emotional vocal delivery from Jamie while the band remains consistent in its expression, as if the instrumentation was the feeling of waiting and his words were breaking through the fog. Probably my favorite track on this record is “Little One,” as it’s an intimate duo with light instrumentation that has a nostalgic quality to it. The lyrics reassure a little one that “you are not alone,” which brought back memories of parents, teachers, and friends all reminding me that during difficult points in life that I have folks who care about me. The instrument heard is a mini 12-string guitar travel guitar, which adds just the right acoustic character to the mood of the tune. Amy returns for guest vocals alongside Julia Janowski. After nestling in the warmth of this homely tune, “My Home” and “The Mountain” speak to education through observation about the American landscape, detailing problems in different regions and highlighting the severity of the environmental impacts of so many corporate business decisions. On “My Home,” we hear area composer Joshua Kohns contributing some wonderful tenor guitar and on “The Mountain” we hear some wonderful native flute and synth sounds from Keith Molyneaux (Living Artisan). The final three tracks pierce the darkness of the previous tunes with some distinct, catchy songwriting. “You Are The Light” focuses on someone who literally can brighten another person’s day by walking into a room, resolving all of the relationship turmoil earlier on the record. Amy and Julia lend their voices to the narrative and Jared returns to play drums. “Beginning of the End” builds into an energetic rock tune with the positive outlook that in spite of all of the problems, it is the beginning of the end to those issues. Julia joins in this chorus of positivity while Stephen Nichelson makes an appearance on drums this time around. And finally, “Veins” ties everything together, with Jamie declaring that he “does this shit cuz it’s in my veins” alongside Julia and Joshua for one last time.
With You Are The Light, Jamie Brackman makes it clear where he stands on a variety of subjects. Love can lead to lies and heartbreak, but there is always that one person who can instantly brighten up your life again and lead to better times. America is full of great people and places, but is marred by the history of mistreatment of its people and environments. Recognizing that there are problems is the first and healthiest step to taking action, and the album’s title presents a call to action: YOU are the light! Keep an eye out for this artist as he pops up around Michigan, black acoustic guitar in hand, and be open to engaging his warm, friendly spirited colored by his travels and experiences.
Album Credits:
Jamie Brackman - Songwriter, Guitars, Vocals
Jared Tuitel - Lead Guitar (Track 1) and Drums (Tracks 1 & 9)
Amy Love - Vocals (Tracks 4, 6, & 9)
Julia Janowski - Vocals (Tracks 6 & 9-11)
Joshua Kohns - Tenor Guitar (Track 7) and Lead Guitar (Track 11)
Keith Molyneaux - Native Flute & Synth (Track 8)
Stephen Nichelson - Drums (Track 10)
Produced by Jamie Brackman at Stoney Mountain Studios
Additional Mixing by Jared Tuitel
Additional Production by Joshua Kohns
Support Jamie Brackman:
Website: https://jamiebrackman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiebrackmanmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiebrackman/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/brackmanjm
Bandcamp: https://jamiebrackman.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1clTmUHymXwmlVb6GcrfR2?si=_TLyK89RROGDiIAuQ_WQRA
