After establishing himself in the fine Duluth, Minnesota, band the A.T.F., Jamie Ness ventured into the studio this past winter to record a solo album that revealed his talent for charming, unpretentious songwriting. Dodging The Landlord is basic and unpolished, with a comfy vibe, that makes for an impressive rootsy-folk ride.
His true talent lies in being able to be both storyteller and self-confessor. Without sounding insincere, he starts things off in "Wisconsin" playing the part of an unwed teenage mother who gets away with murder. On "4 Track Mind", he paints an honest portrait of a struggling artist driven by his passion minus the self-pity or sap and complete with catchy, quirky phrasing. ("This goes out to all the amateur players in this town/Banging it out at the practice space/And you want it bad I can see it in your face/This goes out to all the amateur writers of the world/Typing all night on a coffee high/Dodging the landlord on the stairs.")
Not only does Ness know how to tap into the veins of the blue-collar worker ("Blue collar", "Jack Daniels", "Broken Bottle Fight"), he's also not afraid to dive into the sweeter side of things ("It's Kinda Like A Banjo"). His lyrical spirit is full of empathy, support and honesty, his music a truthful account of what's spilling out of his overflowing heart.
Comments ()