Singer-songwriter Jon Crocker re-releases five songs, along with six new tracks, in his latest album, The Dust Will Settle.
Take a look at Jon Crocker’s discography and he appears to be a music-making machine, but his latest album, The Dust Will Settle (Bluetint Records, 2008) provides evidence that Crocker’s work is far from mechanical.
Eleven Polished Tracks
Crocker, who spends months at a time on tour, took a break from traveling to record, mix and produce The Dust Will Settle. Five of the tracks, “Don't Wait Up for Me,” “I Just Can't Say No,” “ Lap Dog,” “Summer Days” and “The Dust Will Settle,” were previously released, but Crocker re-recorded (and partially re-rewrote) them for this album.
“I decided to re-record [the tracks] because I stopped making copies of the old album, but like the songs too much to let them fall into obscurity,” said Crocker. “So I redid them and put them with songs that I felt rounded out the album well.”
Poetry Delivered Via Folk Rock
The album opens with a spoken introduction on the track “Skipping stones,” a story that leads into a musical tale of a train-hopping adventure. This short introduction fits Crocker’s coffeehouse and living room style. Crocker fans will find this introduction reminiscent of his live performances, where stories and antic dotes are as much a part of the show as his songs.
The first track also lays the basis for the albums overall folk sensibility. Crocker’s work has been classified as Indie, pop, and alternative, but this album has strong folk roots. The tracks contain catchy hooks and unforgettable choruses, while telling stories through poetic lyrics.
“Six Day Sinners’ Son” provides an account of a week in the life of a rambling outlaw: “Well, Monday I might rob a bank/ try to supplement my pain/ and on Tuesday I might shoot a man/ for lookin’ at me the wrong way.” The song goes on to provide a bit of satirical commentary with the lines, “But you’ll never see me sinnin’on a Sunday/ you see that some things are too low for even me.”
The powerful chorus to “When It Breaks Our Bones” complements the narrative versus. Crocker sings, “So we build houses out of wood/ ‘cause we know that it’ll burn/ once we’re tired of feelin’ at home/ and we make bullets out of lead/ ‘cause we know that it’ll hurt/ when it breaks our bones,” with conviction.
Other songs provide a sweeter sentiment. Heartfelt tracks like “All That I Have Left” and “I Just Can’t Say No” are softer, but just as contagious. Crocker’s trademark whistling helps make the tunes unforgettable.
Complex, Not Complicated
The singer-songwriter also plays a wide variety of instruments on The Dust Will Settle: acoustic and electric guitars, bass, piano, organ, accordion and a number of percussion instruments. The rhythms, harmonies and melodies are a perfect fit with Crocker’s lyrics.
Crocker said he doesn’t feel the album is that much different than most of his other work, but it isn’t as concept heavy as Death (2006) or 7 Days, 6 Nights (2007.) “[The Dust Will Settle] is mostly optimistic and upbeat,” he said. “Something I would like to listen to when I want to feel better about life.”
Sources:
Interviews with Jon Crocker (via e-mail March 18, 2008 and April 6, 2008.)
