Jimmy the Squirrel

Whatever the Weather (Do the Dog, 2010)

30^th September, 2010

Jamie

Nottingham’s Jimmy the Squirrel release their first full length album, Whatever the Weather, on Do the Dog.  Given that their EP only came out in April 2008, it’s pretty impressive for the record be hitting doormats already.  Every time I look them up one of them is in another band as well, and then Liam brings another record out (with Robb Blake) straight afterwards.  I’ve been waiting for this record for ages, though, and I doubt I’m the only one.  The absence of any great fanfare when the disc arrives, with just a few brief sleeve notes for company, made it quite a surreal experience.  Here it is, then.

Whatever the Weather opens with Boom and Bust.  It’s got the big old intro, then a little solo, then Liam O’Kane’s melancholy, soulful vocal over backing vocal.  The song is powerful, its message the uneasy feeling about the state of national, and international, bank balance.  Lyrically, it’s best summed up in the words “and the people who put us here are keeping us afloat.  But I don’t know if I trust ‘em.  Do you?”  The song’s lyrics are undoubtedly bleak, but its tempo is surprisingly, and delightfully peppy, totally skankable.  Liam’s voice wavers and conveys a real sense of uneasy anxiety, and yet along side that, the keys and guitars lead your feet a merry dance right from the off.  It’s totally addictive.  The little backing vocals, reminiscent of the ones on Taxi Man on Liam’s solo record are a treat too.  This is an absolute jam.

Bankrupt Man, predictably has similar subject matter, but the song is totally different, more in keeping with what it’s about: an ambient, melancholic tone, and softly reproachful words.  It’s quiet, almost eerie, even, in places, with echoes in underneath the upstrokes on guitar and an edgy little melody on guitars and keys.  It sort of washes over you, this one, leaving that dark, sombre message loud and clear.  It’s dark, but it’s a really good song.

Sort it Out opens with an upbeat, more traditionally choppy, rhythmic, two-tone ska riff over the guitars and keys.  The group backing vocals are a little first-Specials-album.  The eerie, reggae drop-out bit is absolutely lush.  The song kicks in with a rat-a-tat of snare drums and a killer guitar solo.  It’s three tracks in, and this album is already packed with enough hooks to keep you dancing for days.  The keyboard parts, on this track in particular, are a real treat.

The fourth track, How I Go, is probably the album’s real highpoint, though, as you can probably tell, that’s a really tough call to have to make.  It’s a really moving, sad, romantic song about being able to die happy knowing that you’ve found a real, life-affirming, fulfilling love.  The lyrics are wistful, dreamy and really touching, and Liam’s vocal is beautiful: crystal clear, and really believable.  It’s actually one of the best love songs I’ve ever heard.  The opening line, “if I die before I wake”, is sort of amusing, but that’s different.  The backing vocals, in so many layers, are incredible, really well arranged and perfectly performed.  Like Pet Sounds, but in reggae.  The amount of detail in this is really astounding. 

The song as a whole is a real example of how strikingly Jimmy the Squirrel have evolved as a group.  Having first heard the guys as a regular ska/punk band, I remember being blown away by their first EP, as was Kevin at Do the Dog.  Whatever the Weather is even better, and even more different.  How I Go, in keeping with the record as a whole, has a soft, soulful, and at times sombre atmosphere, and gives off a distinctly eighties, almost-dub vibe: eerie and echoey, at times ever so slightly, just to accentuate its soulful, contemplative tone, and at other times to the extent that it’s almost haunting.  I’m sure it was a massive risk to try and put all this in to an album, and it can’t have been easy either, but they’ve pulled it off really well and deserve credit for that as well as for being brave enough to try it in the first place.  Kudos, Jimmy the Squirrel, you’ve made an absolutely outstanding record here.

Daydreamer is another slower tune: gently but firmly reproachful.  Again, its backing vocals and keys are a real highlight.  It’s a little heavier, with a bigger bassline, and Liam giving a cracking take on the classic reggae vocal.

Swings and Roundabouts, next, is a gentle, easy going thing, again loaded with everything that’s great about this record: it starts off nice and slowly, heavy on the harmonies and with a stunning melody.  As always, the harmonies are lush, and the tune is perfect.  A sunny, shiny little gem.  And then it kicks in: without warning, the keys and drums run off in to a little riff and returns as a different tune.  It’s totally addictive, this new bit.

Big Fists is an instrumental. Initially led mainly by guitars, but shifting to genuinely eerie dub, and then back to some punchy riffs.  It gets really raucous by the end, this.  You’ll love it.  There is No Line, again, is a contrast to the previous track.  For a start, there are vocals, and, this time, they’re not Liam’s on lead.  It’s a deeper voice this time, a little richer, and it sounds good.  The song’s got a lot of bass on it, and a catchy little keyboard part.  The emphasis is different here, it’s warmer, more reassuring.  It sounds a little like Rebelation, I guess.  Liam’s back on Inflatable Mansions, really dreamy and soulful, it practically shimmers.  I love the guitar on this track, but the whole thing is just lovely.

The record rocks out to A Little Less.  It’s choppier than the other songs later in the record, all wailing guitars and a vocal with real angst.  Quicker, but not the quickest, it’s got bags of bite: blues-y, wailing guitars, and with those the record fades to its end.  It’s really mature and surprising throughout, with real depth and incredibly sincere.  It’s excellent.  All over.  I love it.

Stand-out tracks:

Bankrupt Man

How I Go

Swings and Roundabouts

There is No Line

Inflatable Mansions