Jiggley Jones | A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light | Review

Article Contributed by Cyrus Rhodes | Published on Wednesday, May 28, 2014

It’s funny how music can change. It’s so malleable; you could hear it in one setting and hate it, vowing to never again let such filth invade your eardrums again. I’m referring to sonic pop by the way. Then, you could hear it at a different time, in a different situation, a different artist and see something in it that you never considered. It’s not just to down to peer pressure, either. You could be listening to a song on repeat in the morning that by night time you can’t stand. Basically, music isn’t just a meal in itself, to really enjoy it you need to be in the right frame of mind, as well as a situation where you can enjoy it.When I turned on the debut EP release “A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light” by Pennsylvania native Jiggly Jones I actually did not expect what I heard. I probably wasn’t giving him the best chance for success as I must be honest. Some artists are a bit over the top about their songwriting lately, and I don’t have to mention who they are. It’s just feels as if they are selling something under a false pretence lacking a real and genuine sense of musical inspiration via Cookie Cutter songwriting. I mean give me something I can feel! Today it feels like many artists out there are going through the motions and how appropriate none of it provides real inspiration. Where am I going with his? None of the above applies to Jiggley Jones and his music. Let’s not let the word “debut” fool you though. Just like the title of his 4 song independent EP release, “No Spring Chicken”, Jiggley himself has lived. “Let’s face it, I’m not 18 anymore and thank God for that”, says Jones. “I’m no longer coming from a place that I have to in order to fit in, I’m coming from a place that is different because that is what I’ve become. No tattoos, no piercings, just music, strong and true, music that paints a picture. However you want to look at this picture, whether it’s Americana, Alt Country, or acoustic whatever, this artist represents life, hope, and human nature as only a seasoned person can see it. When asked, Jones firmly states that “however you want to package this or whatever genre you want to place me into, the bottom line is that I am a singer/songwriter first and foremost, everything else can fall where it may. This is simple, it’s about writing songs that mean something.”I was sold on him during the first few seconds of “Walk on Me”. I might add as I drifted in and out of uncomfortable sleep, hazy static and sporadic bursts of music punctuated my dreams I realized this man believes and feels every stroke, every note, every song he played. I played this EP probably 4 times and despite the brutal sludgy of the Brooklyn traffic there was something on many of this 4 track collection that soothed my inner skepticism. On the second listen, slightly more conscious this time, I began to pick out the sounds somewhere between Lou Reed, The The, David Bowie, Bob Dylan and John Lennon. Bending elements of catchy Alternative Rock, sad but true folk and powerful singer-songwriter one can’t help but fall madly in love with songs like (Look What I Found) and (Early Morning Light). This is the perfect EP it relax and drift in and out of sleep with. This is a compliment as Jones manages to transcend space and time. No matter what state of mind you’re in all these tracks will make a lasting impression on you. This CD will not go in my “reviewed pile” rather it will go on my I-POD indefinitely. My favorite song is a toss-up between “Hope in a Bottle” and Early Morning Light.”The mix works and the somewhat dreamy precision and concentrated themes meshed with Jones’ clairvoyance makes for some top quality music. I kept waiting for a blemish or disappointing song to emerge – which never happened through to the end. Jiggley Jones is for real. It’s these types of artists that make it all the way to the top of our hearts.