James Brittain Gore
Independent, 2007

By Nicholas Nocketback

Singer, Songwriter, Rapper, Actor, Square
Dancer, Miss Hmong New Year 2005—JBG’s A
One Man Bachelor Party

I’m always surprised by the myriad talent here in Fresno, and James Brittain Gore highlights this feeling tenfold. Gore’s (not Al’s son by the way, I asked) self titled album is an organic folk piece orchestrated by…well…James Brittain Gore. He plays everything on the album: guitar, harmonica, keys, drums, vocals, tambourine, spoons, forks, etc.
One is immediately taken aback by the antiquated feel of the album—full bodied folk composition with catchy, maudlin choruses (is chori the plural here?) A prolific song writer, James Brittain Gore reminds me of a mash up of Mason Jennings, Cold War Kids, and a Dylan-ish Beck. I received a copy of the disc without track names but you can find them on JBG’s myspace.
The first track is an inspiring sing along tune that’ll leave you accepting the uncertainty of life and embracing it.
The third track is so very Radiohead-esque, you could play it for a friend and tell them it’s Thom Yorke’s new unreleased track and I bet they’d believe it.
Track six shows Gore’s range as he delves into his country/blues roots—this tune makes one crave a warm glass of whiskey and a Parliament Light.
“Take a Minute” a song you can find on his myspace, is my favorite track; it’s soft, yet beguiling and employs a choir of James’ for harmony and haunting Arcade Fire-like keys. A skeletal and raw record, it begs you to sing along—“take a minute/ shit, take them all.”
“Cops and Robbers” is another of my favorites with an Architecture In Helsinki vibe; a darker tone accented by what sounds like a Little Tikes plastic xylophone, it punches you in the gut with a slackened, lethargic chord progression and drums that remind one of a slow moving train loaded with human bodies: next stop, Port Purgatory.
I’m not sure if James wrote this album to make one become self reflective and a touch melancholic, but the overall affect is of aching beauty.
Do yourself a favor, check out James Brittain Gore’s music at myspace.com/jamesbrittaingore