By Melody LauAs the masses gathered in protest at Zuccotti Park last September, under the Occupy Wall Street movement, Jason Collett was entering the studio at home to record a new album. And although politics rarely make an appearance in Collett's music, the Broken Social Scene alum was particularly struck by the effects that the economic crisis had across America, as he witnessed first-hand while touring his last album, 2010's Rat A Tat Tat. Reckon is a product of Collett's observations, personal reflections and frustrations with the economic turmoil we're still dealing with today. Gone are the sunshine melodies and blissful love songs. Instead, Collett churns out strong, defiant protest anthems that, if recorded a year earlier, would've been the perfect soundtrack to the Occupy movements. Collett's foray into political songwriting further highlights the vocal similarities between him and Bob Dylan, sounding as if Collett is crafting his own modern-day version of The Times They Are A-Changin'. Even though there's a dramatic shift thematically, Collett maintains his signature sound of acoustic slow jams and the occasional up-tempo number, like sardonic single "I Wanna Rob A Bank" and the marching rhythm behind "Black Diamond Girl." Opener "Pacific Blue" is a shining example of how the addition of strings and horns on Reckon contribute to a more sophisticated sound from Collett, one that's ready to charge to the front of the picket line. (Arts & Crafts)
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Al Tuck Stranger at the Wake
