Artist Spotlight
Son Stone spreads humor with “Jelly Ain’t My Jam”
Son Stone (Ben Diamond) reminds you that Country music has not yet gone out of style with the new release “Jelly Ain’t My Jam”. The award-winning songwriter, poet, and humorist packs his cutting wit and determination into a ditty that’s half-front-porch tale, half-barroom confession. The track has the crackle and charm that gets you leaning in to listen close, listening close enough to make sense, but also a little too hard, laughing at least as diligently as those still out around midnight with Tom Waits and John Prine.
The song begins with a swagger, a cheeky sway that insinuates that you’re about to hear a story worth hearing. Lyrically clever and bursting with personality, “Jelly Ain’t My Jam” turned over a few times and then delivered with a wink. Stone’s songwriting shows through in his knack for making everyday utterances seem timeless or uniquely his.
The song combines rootsy textures with just a bit of determination, keeping things loose but not aimless. It’s that kind of groove, the one that sounds as if it has been played by people who are familiar with both heartbreak and humor. There’s nothing affected about it, just an effortless, lived-in groove that clings to your boots. “Jelly Ain’t My Jam” is a reminder that wit and wisdom haven’t been cast out of country music.
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Album Review
Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires explore healing and personal growth on “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams” [album]
Albums often have a strong sense of identity, with songs linking to a broader emotional and musical direction. The nine-song album “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams” by Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires, featuring Dutch vocalist Ilse Van Der Linden front and center, is more cohesive.
The band’s melodic psychedelic pop offers a welcome counterpoint to a project that explores recovery, longing, uncertainty, and personal growth. The tracklist is an emotional journey. “To Think, To Heal” starts with the idea of mental healing and moving on from the past. “Flying” is more of an escapist wish to escape the pressures of day-to-day life. “Come Home” is about finding comfort and belonging.
“Here I Am” is about self-awareness and openness. Together, these early songs form an album about finding stability and processing difficult experiences. The middle ground is more emotionally layered. “Hopelessly Devoted To You” is about being attached all the time, and “Lost & Burned” is about being worn out and the results of hard experiences. Then there is “In My Dreams,” which turns into memory and unfulfilled wishes. Later, “AIR” brings the need for freedom, air, space, and a new start.
It ends with “BLEND,” a combination of psychedelic, shoegaze, and electronic influences. The release also includes another visual element from Gareth Halliday, who also worked on Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Who Built The Moon. “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams” has softer vocals and a range of emotions. This album is deliberately constructed, moving from reflection to acceptance without losing the variety of experiences it tackles.
Artist Spotlight
for KING & COUNTRY celebrate faith and everyday joy on “the most beautiful colours”
Life can be full of pressure, doubt, and personal challenges, and it can be hard to see the beauty in the day-to-day. That’s the idea behind the title track from for KING & COUNTRY’s fifth studio album, “the most beautiful colours.“ The four-time GRAMMY-winning duo’s release celebrates hope, joy, and faith, treasuring the little things in life and not shying away from life’s struggles in pursuit of happiness.
When they took a break in 2024, they wanted to step back and see what they could create for the album. They also stepped back from their careers to spend more time with family, friends, and their local community. The experience shaped the record’s themes, bringing a new appreciation for relationships, everyday life, and the wider world around them.
The album’s title track is a message to find joy in the moments, even when things are still hard. It’s a lens of faith, especially in its emphasis on celebrating God’s creation and hope in dark times. This release is about the everyday experiences that humanize the work of a duo whose output has so often been shared with audiences through faith-based themes. It is a thank-you note in “the most beautiful colors,” and it’s a hopeful and reflective perspective.
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