Bee Stings & Broken Hearts

BEE STINGS & BROKEN HEARTS dwells in perennial themes and hypnotic reverie. From the heartrending "Rain Chain" and darkly jubilant "Only Suffering" to the wounded acquiescence of the title track, this is the sound of the soft belly of hope couched in dream; of clapping while dying with guilty hands; a nano-shot of bliss from a half-drunk, genuflecting soul. It will rock you, but more like a baby than a hurricane. Made with multi-instrumentalist/producer Lex Price, these blood, sweat and tear soaked melodies emerged over the better part of a decade surrounding stints in various bands. Raised on Long Island, exposed to tap dance and accordion before taking up drums, this 90’s major label casualty/would-be-only drummer's dark hollows have provided plenty of grist for the mill. If only from the numbed out states of despair and disconnection can we self-transcend, BEE STINGS & BROKEN HEARTS may be considered a poignant aural aide memoire. ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** "So beautiful" Lisa Germano "Definitely one of the most unique pieces of art I have ever heard... we're not in a position to give an album such as this the attention it deserves" -Eric Durbin, Music Director, Bought Records, LLC "Sensational...ethereal...beautiful." -Chris Keaton, Keaton Music Ventures "Nashville-based singer/songwriter Jimson enlisted the aid of multi-instrumentalist/producer/k.d. lang bassist Lex Price on his self-released debut CD. A very wise move, as they seem the perfect complement to each other. Suffice to say, I'm hooked on his dreamy, pastoral alt folk-rock. You will be, too." -Dusty Wright, Culture Catch "Jimson makes quietly thoughtful, intense music on this album. "Way to Love" recalls Sparklehorse's strain of broken Americana in a most pleasing way. "Incomplete" is a dark, eerie hush of a song with a dreamy mood that he inhabits easily. "Rain Chain" is a poetic, calm moment with a lovely tune. Hannah Pratter's backing vocals add just the right amount of airy sophistication to the song. The closing title song is a moment of beauty as Jimson softly sings his dark words over a celestial melody. It's a fitting closer to an extraordinary album." -Anna StJarnell, Luna Kafe Review by Gisèle Grignon for AntiMusic.com: "First a word about the opening bit of new age-y gobbledegook. If you're already jonesing for an Oprah-esque authentic, light bulb moment fix, you're welcome. If you're not, my apologies (the first of two, actually). But please stick with this because there really is a review in here. And this "aural aide memoire" by Jimson (the eldest son of a guy named, yup, Jim), a respected drummer, and producer/musician extraordinaire (just ask kd lang) Lex Price, most definitely deserves whatever otherworldly positivity, celestial blessings and/or good old fashioned public appreciation it gets. I'm generally not much into the whole cosmic, karmic, Christ-like profile on a piece of day-old toast kind of headspace. But if the apparition (albeit in my inglorious snowplough-battered mailbox and not by my glorious bedside or even on the aforementioned burned slice of carbohydrate) of Bee Stings & Broken Hearts doesn't merit some rethinking of the realm of happenstance-coincidence vs. airy-fairy intervention, then I don't know what does. And if you don't agree, well, bad things will happen to you. I'm just saying. So here goes. I had been looking for---okay, in need of---some new music. Not just the beeboppiddy, roll the car windows down and feel younger than someone who can actually recall a time when doing so meant manually rolling down a knobbed window handle, type of music. No, the type of music I was looking for had to serve one of two purposes: 1. Spark some motivation 2. Ease my sleep. Since losing my mom to heart failure, my big brother (a gifted musician) to a massive stroke, and almost losing my husband (the real music reviewer in the family) to a heart attack and triple bypass surgery --- all within a year's time --- restful sleep had become but a faint memory, motivation a speck in my life's rear-view mirror. Bee Stings & Broken Hearts graciously delivered on not one but both counts, namely giving me a good night's sleep and a good kick in the pants (or at least good enough for me to attempt to put pen to paper again following a sleep and creativity drought, and persuade you this CD is worth your consideration and cash). If stumbling upon the right music at the right time in your life doesn't quite win a karmic gold medal (crystal ball?), then maybe combining that good fortune with an eerily apropos CD title (echoing my own unexpected pain and experience with hearts breaking and/or simply giving out) with its artwork (beautifully rendered sketch of a human heart, aortas and all) might at least qualify for a silver, no? And as if all this heartbreaking personal and musical parallels stuff wasn't enough, the Bee Stings element threatened to join the cosmic séance too: As I was checking Jimson's lyrics online, a hummingbird-sized bumble bee attempted to bust through my office window's screen. Oh, and the liner notes include the phrase "vincit qui se vincit"---my high school alma mater's motto. Hardly Psychic Hotline fodder, but enough to give one pause. But back to you : My apologies to any lactose intolerant readers because, despite my very best efforts, this review (not to be confused with the CD or its brilliant creator) may well be tagged as not only indulgent but ultra-cheesy (you say camembert, I say calm and bare… let's call the whole thing off –the-charts beautiful…) Fact is, this is a delectable, eminently-relatable (minus the commercial cutesiness passing for cleverness today) musical outpouring that, well, really does touch the heart. Think Bruce Cockburn coffee house era with a splash of testosterone-laced moody Adele, and well, that's the best I can do without resorting to the marketing gurus' neat and tidy catch-phrase: "If you like xxxxx, or xxxxx, then you'll LOVE this new artist." It's not that Jimson defies definition, it's just that the definition may (at least for some of us) be more of a fluid thing, one that hinges on how, where, why and when you listen to it, track by track or in its entirety. But this much IS constant: Jimson's soothing, alternately smoky/raspy voice is the ideal vehicle for this material. And I challenge anyone to give this CD a fair listen --- (or as is suggested: "play thrice before listening") and not be moved by the thoughtful symmetry of its wrenching or invigorating words and melodies, its dark yet effervescent tone and themes. Such as? * "Only Suffering"; Possibly the most addictive cut in this seamless tapestry, there's a nostalgic Beach Boys tinge to this one, complete with a salt-water breeziness and a Sha-Na-Na undertow. Captivating without the usual Hallmark-esque golly-gee-whiz confectioner's sugar-coating (which would have been gag-inducing considering the song's title). * "Crimes of Ages" (dedicated to Helen R.I.P--- and further proof, as if any was needed, that Jimson understands the layered grieving process), in which he underscores "A soul is not alone when there's a sweet love to give. Rest now knowing how you gave your love and life to them." * "Bee Stings and Broken Hearts": "Morning wake from never sleeping, paint a happy face", spoken by someone who's experienced the duality/duplicity of insomnia. Featuring vocals by Jordan Caress and Jimson, the harmonies here intertwine like delicately-aged Belgian lacework, and are delivered with a hypnotic mantra-like effect. * "Mother Divine": With its aching plea to "Hear my cry", this track envelopes the listener with the familiar worn-flannel warmth of a quilt (okay, the fact that I was wrapped in one of my mom's handmade blankets when I first heard this track may have contributed to that analogy). But it's "Hold On", featuring the sultry additional vocals of Hannah Prater, and Jimson's stripped down acoustic prowess, and which sounds as though it's dripping succulently from an old Victrola, that really tugs at the heart. This one could easily find a broad audience as movie/TV soundtrack --- if there's any justice (and if you've witnessed the outcome of most "reality" TV music/talent debacles, you're right to question the very notion of justice). This adult lullaby may indeed be best enjoyed, not with a grande skinny latte with a shot of espresso in a recycled cardboard cup, but rather the old school, stove top-heated whole milk hot chocolate in your fave ceramic mug. And don't skimp on the marshmallows (the campfire monstrosities, not those dinky minis, and certainly never the pastel colored poseurs). Yes, it's THAT rich and velvety. If (and that's a mighty big IF), Bee Stings & Broken Hearts' raw lyrical offerings don't help you dissect, reflect on, or divert you from, your own personal trauma or triumphs then the music surely will. Forget the inspired integration here of a glockenspiel, ukulele and bouzouki; Jimson's vocals alone embody a sincerity that lasers in on you whether you're listening to him in traffic, in bed, in despair or in delight…or in denial. Whether you believe in coincidence or crystals, the alignment of the stars or the alliances of star makers, or even that the universe somehow knows when and how to send you what you need, there is no denying this: Bee Stings & Broken Hearts is only the first of many, many more soulful soothing balms by the refreshingly original mind and heart of Jimson. Fingers crossed." Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5) Review by Heath Andrews for ReviewYou.com: "There once was a man named Jim. One day, Jim had a son; the son of Jim. The son of Jim would later become Jimson, and in 2011, release his album, Bee Stings & Broken Hearts. Jimson's music is very much in the alternative style, but difficult to describe from a sonic standpoint. Jimson's voice isn't very powerful, but it has a hushed, melodic quality to it, akin to Radiohead's Thom Yorke when he's not yelping away in falsetto. Jimson's voice is much more restrained and consistent, not pushing into areas it sounds forced. The music itself, more often than not, has a very light, ethereal quality to it, while occasionally poppy or electric. Following a brief introductory track, Jimson leads his album off with "Way to Love." The arrangement begins simply, but builds up to include multiple guitars, keyboards, and a deceptively forceful drum track. Jimson and Lex Price played most of the instruments, with additional keyboards by John Deaderick. These three make up the primary musicians on each of the tracks. Here, they create that kind of aforementioned sound, primarily very light aside from the drums and bursts of electric guitar that come in during the bridge. Lyrically, the song is simple as Jimson sings about being shown a "...New way to love..." "Incomplete" has a similar structure, augmented by the use of slide guitar and harmonica. The lyrics are dark: "Car crash, mother said the good lord brings you back/Blood on the fingertips, don't you know a teenage scar heals fast?" The vocal processing, drum beat, and chilling keyboards make the verses sound like something out of a Massive Attack song, to chilling effect. The slide guitar is particularly haunting, almost sounding like a crying voice amongst Jimson's soft singing. At times, the melodies can be a little trance-inducing on the longer tracks. "Hold On" and "Rain Chain" each run a little over five minutes, which is about a minute and a half too long for their sakes. Aside from the drums, the songs are very subdued, and while the performances are still great, they're more captivating when trimmed down. One of the reasons two of the later pieces, "Love Remains" and "Crimes of Age," work so well is because they are only three minutes long. The songs, by nature of their length, flow from one engaging part to the next. It also helps that the latter of these two has a great acoustic rhythm and a catchy vocal part. In terms of being catchy, though, nothing trumps the album's third song, "Only Suffering." Despite having a lyric that is so dark that it borders on depressing, the plucky guitar riff, accessible drum beat, and "Hey sha la la" chorus make the music addictive. Bolstering the chorus are the additional vocals provided by Marcia Ware. Price also plays a fantastic bass part that just adds another hook to an already hook-filled song. In short, "Only Suffering" is nothing short of an alternative pop/rock gem. Also of note is the album's final piece, which is also its title track. Building on the core trio, Jimson brings in an additional vocalist, Jordan Caress, as well as David Henry on viola and cello and Rod McGaha on trumpet. The expanded arrangement is used to great effect as the song features a fantastic build. Jimson continues to channel a dark vibe as he sings of pain, heartache and the titular refrain, "Bee stings and broken hearts don't hurt anymore..." The overall effect of the music and lyrics is devastatingly powerful. Aside from a few songs that are a too heavy on length and light on arrangement, Jimson's Bee Stings & Broken Hearts is a well-written, well-performed album with a very distinct sound to it. The music is just the right mix of relaxing and powerful; it's not dull but not overly exciting either. Some listeners may find the sound to be too subdued, but there is a wealth of deep performances featured here to reward anyone lucky enough to discover the music of the Son of Jim." Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)